Second Victim Support at the Core of Severe Adverse Event Investigation

Angel Cobos-Vargas, Pastora Pérez-Pérez, María Núñez-Núñez (), Eloísa Casado-Fernández and Aurora Bueno-Cavanillas
Additional contact information
Angel Cobos-Vargas: Intensive Care Department, Clínico San Cecilio University Hospital, 18016 Granada, Spain
Pastora Pérez-Pérez: Territorial Unit II, Provincia San Juan de Dios de España, 41005 Seville, Spain
María Núñez-Núñez: Biosanitary Research Institute, Ibs.Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
Eloísa Casado-Fernández: Patient Safety Committee, Clínico San Cecilio University Hospital, 18016 Granada, Spain
Aurora Bueno-Cavanillas: Patient Safety Committee, Clínico San Cecilio University Hospital, 18016 Granada, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-9

Abstract: There is limited evidence and a lack of standard operating procedures to address the impact of serious adverse events (SAE) on healthcare workers. We aimed to share two years’ experience of a second victim support intervention integrated into the SAE management program conducted in a 500-bed University Hospital in Granada, Spain. The intervention strategy, based on the “forYOU” model, was structured into three levels of support according to the degree of affliction and the emotional needs of the professionals. A semi-structured survey of all workers involved in an SAE was used to identify potential second victims. Between 2020 and 2021, the SAE operating procedure was activated 23 times. All healthcare workers involved in an SAE ( n = 135) received second-level support. The majority were physicians (51.2%), followed by nurses (26.7%). Only 58 (43.0%) received first-level emotional support and 47 (34.8%) met “second victim” criteria. Seven workers (14.9%) required third-level support. A progressive increase in the notification rates was observed. Acceptance of the procedure by professionals and managers was high. This novel approach improved the number of workers reached by the trained staff; promoted the visibility of actions taken during SAE management and helped foster patient safety culture in our setting.

Keywords: second victim; adverse events; patient safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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