Investigation of mental stress factors of nuclear disaster responders using a newly developed shirt-type electrocardiograph

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K17870
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 55060:Emergency medicine-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University (2022); Fukushima Medical University (2020-2021)
• Principal Investigator: Iyama Keita 長崎大学, 病院(医学系), 講師 (50778694)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 原子力災害 / 緊急被ばく医療 / 教育 / 人材確保 / ストレス / 心拍変動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Participants in the radiation emergency medicine training were asked to wear a shirt-type electrocardiograph during the training course, and stress values were derived from the heart rate variability. Stress values obtained over time showed a significant increase during the removal of radioactive materials from the patients (decontamination). On the other hand, the stress was sufficiently reduced during the final stage of the training, when the participants were removing his/her protective clothing, compared to the decontamination process. This indicates the need to provide medical personnel with advance guidance and knowledge of stressful situations during radiation emergency medicine. In addition, since extreme stress reduction may induce human errors, it was considered necessary to construct training items that maintain an appropriate stressful environment that provides moderate tension.

Free Research Field

救急医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

通常、訓練の指導ポイントはアンケートなどの主観的な指標でしか評価できていなかったが、本研究ではシャツ型心電計を着用することで、客観的な指標を用い訓練の指導ポイントを具体的に把握することが可能となった。
緊急被ばく医療への従事者は不足している。そこには不安/ストレスを契機とする負の連鎖が生じており、人材不足のため教育活動は脆弱化し、医療従事者が放射線関連の基本的知識や経験を得る十分な教育機会が喪失することで、緊急被ばく医療に従事する際の不安/ストレスが解消されない。本研究はその負の連鎖を断ち切るため、効率的に不安/ストレスを取り除き、有能な人材を短期間で育成するためのヒントを得ることができた。