The evaluation of stress during medical simulation: a feasibility study involving final-year medical students

Student stress is well-documented within the field of simulation-based medical education. However, current research is unclear as to what level of stress is optimal for an enhanced educational experience. This ambiguity may partly be due to the use of one or a small number of stress metrics in study designs. Our study will aim to evaluate the feasibility of measuring the human stress response during medical simulation, using a suite of techniques. Audiovisual (video spectacles), biochemical (serum cortisol and plasma metanephrine/normetanephrine), physiological (blood pressure, galvanic skin response and heart rate) and psychological (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Big Five Inventory-2) markers of stress will be monitored during two randomized medical simulations of differing complexities.