Understanding the Second Victim Phenomenon Among Healthcare Workers
Author Information
Author(s): Raffaella Sedile, Antonella Zizza, Luca Bastiani, Eugenia Carluccio, Marrazzi Marinella, Tommaso Bellandi, Giorgio O. Spagnolo
Primary Institution: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Italy
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of second victim syndrome among healthcare workers and what support do they need?
Conclusion
The study found that 41% of healthcare workers reported experiencing second victim syndrome after adverse events, highlighting the need for better institutional support.
Supporting Evidence
- 41% of healthcare workers reported being involved in an adverse event that could cause second victim syndrome.
- 23.5% reported psychological distress as the main effect of second victim syndrome.
- 54.5% stated that their organization does not prioritize the well-being of those involved in adverse events.
Takeaway
When healthcare workers make mistakes, they can feel really sad and stressed, and many of them need help to feel better.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using a validated questionnaire (IT-SVEST) administered to doctors and nurses.
Potential Biases
Selection bias due to voluntary participation and potential underreporting of adverse events due to stigma.
Limitations
The study had a convenience sample and a lower response rate from doctors compared to nurses, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
71.1% female, majority were nurses (80.7%), aged between 31 and 50 (51.4%), with over 15 years of experience (45.0%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p ≤ 0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.904–9.560
Statistical Significance
p ≤ 0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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