This study is aiming at investigating whether professional burnout in people involved in the mobile intensive care unit (in French: Element Mobile de Réanimation, EMR) in Mulhouse (France) can be predicted upstream by a low mindfulness level (as a protective factor) or by a dysregulation of stress pathways with a high level of perceived stress towards an emotional event (psychological index of allostatic load), i.e. an early and silent dysfunctional physiological response (measured by the electrophysiological and biological measurements of allostasis load and parasympathetic brake). It is part of a global approach aiming at identifying levers to prevent the allostatic load of occupational stress related to large-scale health crises.
Behavioral: Assessment of work-related stress
Assessment of burnout, mindfulness, interoceptive awareness, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, coping flexibility and sleep through questionnaires.
Biological: Saliva sample collection
Saliva sample is collected before and after emotional stimulation in order to measure resting-state allostatic load biomarkers: DHEA, cortisol and chromogranine A levels
Other: Cardiac and electrodermal recordings
Electrocardiogram and electrodermal activity (tonic and phasic) is collected at rest and after emotional stimulation.
Behavioral: Assessment of behavioral response to emotional stimulation
Emotional stimulation involves asking the participants to remember a recent event related to the COVID-19 crisis that has been emotionally difficult for them.
Perceived stress, situational awareness and emotions is assessed after emotional stimulation through questionnaires.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Volunteer staff member of the Mulhouse mobile intensive care unit (in French: Elément
mobile de réanimation, EMR), including military reservists.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding woman,
- Person deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision,
- Person subject to a legal protection measure or unable of giving consent
- Intercurrent pathology with inability to work
- History of psychiatric disorder or cardiac pathology
Elément Militaire de Réanimation (EMR)
Mulhouse, France