Analysis of the Objective and Subjective Stress Response of Students and Professors in Practical Nursing Exams and Their Relationship with Academic Performance.

The aim of the present research was to analyse the objective and subjective stress responses of students in a clinical case evaluation and the correlation with academic performance, as well as to analyse the differences in grade and difficulty perceptions between students and professors that designed the clinical case. A sample of 103 first-year students from a nursing degree was studied. In this sample, the objective stress was analysed by measuring the autonomic modulation (through the heart rate variability); moreover, the subjective stress was analysed using the SUDS scale. Furthermore, the difficulty perception and academic performance were measured using scales for both students and professors. The measures were taken before and after the clinical exams. A large subjective and objective stress response was observed at the beginning of the clinical case, and this response was related to a high academic performance perception. Upon completion of the clinical evaluation, both the stress response and the academic performance perception decreased. The professors and students presented different grade and difficulty perceptions concerning the clinical case.

Monitorization of Autonomic Stress Response of Nurse Students in Hospital Clinical Simulation.

The aims of this study were to analyze the autonomic stress response of nurse degree students during a hospital clinical simulation and to analyze differences in the autonomic stress response of nurse degree students during a hospital clinical simulation depending on their psychological profile. We analyzed in 45 nurse students their psychological profile (purpose in life, coping flexibility, perceived stress, Framingham Type A Behavior, and personality) and the autonomic modulation by the heart rate variability in a hospital clinical simulation. Students presented decreased heart rate variability and different autonomic stress responses depending on the different psychological parameters evaluated. We concluded that a hospital clinical simulation produced a large sympathetic modulation of nurse students that was maintained during the entire clinical simulation. The autonomic response was modulated by the psychological profile of students, showing higher purpose in life, perceived stress, and neuroticism, presenting higher parasympathetic modulation.

Influence of psychological profile in autonomic response of nursing students in their first hospital clinical stays.

BACKGROUND: This research aimed to analyse the psychological profile of nursing students and its relationship with the physiological anticipatory anxiety response at the earliest clinical practices; and to analyse the habituation response at the psychophysiological level of nursing students throughout their first clinical practices. METHODS: 18 students of the first year of Nursing degree were studied in their first clinical stays. Their psychophysiological stress response was evaluated throughout the analysis of the autonomic modulation and their subjective perception to stress at the beginning and at the end of the stays. In addition, an inventory of psychological test was carried out to observe its association with the psychophysiological stress response. RESULTS: The results showed that the students presented a large anticipatory anxiety response at the beginning of the stays, as well as an absence of a habituation process during the stay. It was also observed a positive relation between the loneliness perceived and the autonomic stress response. CONCLUSION: The clinical stays in the hospital performed by first year students of the nursing degree, did not produce the expected habituation response at psychophysiological level. Also, a higher perception of social isolation was significantly related with a higher objective (sympathetic modulation) and subjective (perceived stress) stress responses.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: differences between men and women]. / Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva: diferencias entre hombres y mujeres.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increased its prevalence in females. Women have been described as more symptomatic. There are few studies considering gender differences in COPD. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of gender on quality of life, symptoms, treatment, risk factors and cardiovascular disease in a population of patients with COPD. In this prospective observational cross-sectional study, the included COPD patients were consecutively admitted between September 1, 2008 to March 1, 2010. We registered age, sex, smoking history, risk factors and cardiovascular disease, treatment and severity of COPD. We measured ankle-brachial index (ABI) and performed EuroQol-5D. Two hundred forty six patients were included (195 men). There were more former smokers among men (68.7% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.001), men had a lower FEV1 (48.7% ± 15.7 vs. 58.2% ± 10.9 of theoretical, p < 0.001) and higher frequency of ischemic heart disease (16.4% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.04). Women showed a higher prevalence of COPD without exposure to smoke cigarette (64.7% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001), more symptoms of anxiety and depression (p = 0.004) and less frequently altered ABI (20% vs. 41. 6%, p = 0.01).There were differences in COPD with respect to sex with more severe pulmonary and cardiovascular disease in men and more symptoms of anxiety and depression in women.

Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva: diferencias entre hombres y mujeres / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: differences between men and women

La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) ha aumentado su prevalencia en el sexo femenino. Los casos de mujeres se describen como más sintomáticas. A pesar de que la EPOC se ha vinculado a elevado riesgo cardiovascular, hay pocos estudios sobre diferencias por sexo. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue determinar la influencia del sexo sobre calidad de vida y síntomas, tratamiento, factores de riesgo y enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV) en una población de pacientes con EPOC. En este estudio prospectivo observacional de corte transversal, se incluyeron pacientes con EPOC ingresados consecutivamente entre el 1 de septiembre de 2008 al 1 de marzo de 2010. Se registraron edad, sexo, habito tabáquico, factores de riesgo y enfermedad cardiovascular, tratamiento y gravedad de la EPOC. Se midió índice tobillo-brazo (ITB) y se realizó Euroqol-5D. Se incluyeron 246 pacientes (195 hombres). Los hombres fueron más ex fumadores (68.7% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.001), tuvieron un VEF1 menor (48.7% ± 15.7 vs. 58.2% ± 10.9 de teórico, p < 0.001) y mayor frecuencia de cardiopatía isquémica (16.4% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.04). Las mujeres presentaron más prevalencia de EPOC sin exposición al tabaco (64.7% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001), más síntomas de ansiedad y depresión (p = 0.004) e ITB alterado en menor frecuencia (20% vs. 41.6%, p = 0.01). Concluimos que hubo diferencias en la EPOC en relación al sexo, con compromiso pulmonar y cardiovascular más grave en hombres y más síntomas de ansiedad y depresión en mujeres.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increased its prevalence in females. Women have been described as more symptomatic. There are few studies considering gender differences in COPD. The aim of our study was to determine the influence of gender on quality of life, symptoms, treatment, risk factors and cardiovascular disease in a population of patients with COPD. In this prospective observational cross-sectional study, the included COPD patients were consecutively admitted between September 1, 2008 to March 1, 2010. We registered age, sex, smoking history, risk factors and cardiovascular disease, treatment and severity of COPD. We measured ankle-brachial index (ABI) and performed EuroQol-5D. Two hundred forty six patients were included (195 men). There were more former smokers among men (68.7% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.001), men had a lower FEV1 (48.7% ± 15.7 vs. 58.2% ± 10.9 of theoretical, p < 0.001) and higher frequency of ischemic heart disease (16.4% vs. 5.9%, p = 0.04). Women showed a higher prevalence of COPD without exposure to smoke cigarette (64.7% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001), more symptoms of anxiety and depression (p = 0.004) and less frequently altered ABI (20% vs. 41. 6%, p = 0.01).There were differences in COPD with respect to sex with more severe pulmonary and cardiovascular disease in men and more symptoms of anxiety and depression in women.