INTRODUCTION: Second victim experience (SVE) refers to the emotional and psychological impact experienced by healthcare providers who are involved in patient safety incidents (PSIs). Despite growing awareness of patient safety in healthcare organizations, remedial actions often focus only on the first victim, the patient. Therefore, it is important to recognize and address the emotional and physical toll that PSIs to ensure the well-being of and to promote a culture of safety in healthcare settings. Hence, this study was initiated to determine the prevalence of SVE, assess symptoms related to SVE and evaluate the level of support needed by healthcare providers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Second Victim Experience and Support Tool for Recovery (SVEST-R) questionnaire was utilized to conduct an anonymous survey on the healthcare providers in Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) from August to October 2018.
RESULTS: A total of 482 respondents participated in the survey and 46.1% of the respondents reported SVE following their involvement in PSIs. Notably, symptoms such as flashbacks, fear, and stress tend to persist for longer durations compared to other symptoms. It is worth noting that non-work-related support received the highest mean (medical doctors = 3.83; nurses = 3.70), indicating that respondents preferred to seek emotional support from their friends and families. Furthermore, nurses reported a significantly higher experience of absenteeism following PSIs than doctors (p=0.003). In addition, most respondents expressed a desire for discussion or counselling with a respected peer or supervisor following their involvement in PSIs.
CONCLUSION: Present study reported a relatively high prevalence of SVE among healthcare providers at SGH. Hence, proactive measures, including non-work related and supervisor support, are essential in facilitating their overall well-being and successful recovery.
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.