Relationship between physiologic and psychological measures of autonomic activation in operating room teams during a simulated airway emergency.

BACKGROUND: Emotional stability is important for individual and team performance during operating room (OR) emergencies. We compared physiologic and psychological anxiety assessments in OR teams during simulated events.

METHODS: Twenty-two teams participated in a "cannot intubate/cannot ventilate" simulation. Participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and wore a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor. Differences in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores and GSR levels were analyzed. Anxiety scores were correlated with GSR levels.

RESULTS: Resident physicians had significantly higher trait anxiety than the nurses, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and surgical technicians (43.9 ± 9.9 vs 38.3 ± 9.3, P < .01). Senior practitioners had significantly higher trait anxiety than junior practitioners (43.7 ± 9.6 vs 40.0 ± 9.9, P = .03). All groups showed significant increases in GSR. Psychological and physiologic data did not correlate.

CONCLUSIONS: Senior practitioners and residents have higher levels of baseline trait anxiety for unclear reasons. Also, OR team training results in physiological signs of anxiety that do not correlate to self-reported psychological measurements.