Abstract: Background: Clinical simulation can trigger anticipatory stress.
Aim: To evaluate the effect of a progressive life support simulation program on anticipatory stress responses.
Methods: Longitudinal quasi-experimental study. A 10-hour program was applied to students without clinical experience. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), salivary cortisol, self-efficacy, and perceived stress were measured as indicators of anticipatory stress responses.
Results: Eighty students (83.8% female) participated. Training reduced anticipatory stress responses. In the most demanding scenario, HR fell from 98.8 to 80.1 beats per minute, systolic blood pressure (SBP) 131.1-117.0, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) from 78.1-65.5, and perceived stress (visual analogue scale, VAS) 6.48-1.58 (p < .001). Cortisol decreased (0.41?0.21 µg/dL, p = .002), self-efficacy increased (3.09-4.64, p < .001), and perceived stress levels slightly declined. Students with prior cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training showed lower initial anticipatory stress.
Conclusions: Progressive simulation improves adaptation and coping as part of the anticipatory stress response.
