How stressful is doctor–patient communication? Physiological and psychological stress of medical students in simulated history taking and bad-news consultations

摘要: Abstract Introduction Medical communication can be a stressful experience for both doctors and patients. In particular, inexperienced facing the demanding task of bad news consultation may high levels distress. The aim this exploratory study is to test students' differential cardiovascular reactivity history taking consultations with simulated patient, relation between self-reported stressfulness their response. Methods Fourth fifth year medical students ( n  = 20) conducted (HT) (BN) in randomized order standardized patient. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO) systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were assessed by way Finapres-technique four conditions: rest, reading aloud, during consultations. Self-reported stress was before after each interview using State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), visual analogue scale (VAS). Results Both HT BN provoked more than reading. Bad-news highest HR CO responses compared all other conditions, had greater impact when it student's first consultation. STAI VAS data showed some correlations measures comparable but less significant pattern Discussion effect on suggests an additional novelty habituation. Unfamiliarity patient enhance breaking news.