Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (Mar 2021)
Healthcare Professional Experiences of Clinical Incident in Hong Kong: A Qualitative Study
Abstract
Leung Andrew Luk,1 Fung Kam Iris Lee,1 Chi Shan Lam,2 Hing Yu So,3 Yuk Yi Michelle Wong,3 Wai Sze Wacy Lui4 1Nethersole Institute of Continuing Holistic Health Education (NICHE), Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Charity Foundation, Hong Kong; 2Department of Anesthesiology & Operating Services, AHNH &NDH, Hong Kong; 3Quality & Safety, New Territories East Cluster (Q&S, NTEC), Hong Kong; 4Oasis Center for Personal Growth & Crisis Intervention, Corporate Clinical Intervention, Corporate Clinical Psychological Services, Hospital Authority, Hong KongCorrespondence: Leung Andrew Luk Email [email protected]: Studies showed that adverse events within health care settings can lead to two victims. The first victim is the patient and family and the second victim is the involved healthcare professionals. However, there is a lack of research studying the experiences of healthcare professionals encountering clinical incidents in Hong Kong. This paper reports a qualitative study in exploring the healthcare professional experiences of clinical incident, their impacts and needs.Methods: This study is the second part of the mixed research method with two studies conducted in a cluster of hospitals in Hong Kong. Study 1 was a quantitative questionnaire survey and Study 2 was a qualitative In-Depth Interview. In study 2, a semi-interview guide was used.Results: Results showed that symptoms experienced after the clinical incident were mostly from psychological, physical, then social and lastly spiritual aspects which were consistent with those found in study 1 and other studies. Using content analysis for analyzing the impacts, four themes were identified. Concerning the impacts immediately from the clinical incident, two themes emerged were 1) facing emotion distress and 2) maintaining rationality. Regarding the impacts after the clinical incident, another two themes were 3) managing further emotional distress 4) restoring personal wellness. With regard to the needs after clinical incidents, three themes emerged were 1) self-recovery; 2) senior good mentoring and 3) positive organization climate with emphasis on enhancement of training and development of a positive practice culture.Conclusion: Great impacts are found with healthcare professionals encountering clinical incidents from a holistic perspective. They need time for self-recovery with support from good supervisors, peers and a caring environment. Some recommendations based on the findings of the study are made.Keywords: clinical incident, second victim, healthcare professionals, qualitative study
