Second Victim Experience: A Dynamic Process Conditioned by the Environment. A Qualitative Research

Abstract

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ObjectivesWhen adverse events (AE) occur, there are different consequences for healthcare professionals. The environment in which professionals work can influence the experience. This study aims to explore the experiences of second victims (SV) among health professionals in Argentina.MethodsA phenomenological study was used with in-depth interviews with healthcare professionals. Audio recordings and verbatim transcriptions were analyzed independently for themes, subthemes, and codes.ResultsThree main themes emerged from the analysis: navigating the experience, the environment, and the turning point. Subthemes were identified for navigating the experience to describe the process: receiving the impact, transition, and taking action.ConclusionSVs undergo a process after an AE. The environment is part of this experience. It is a turning point in SVs’ professional and personal lives. Improving the psychological safety (PS) environment is essential for ensuring the safety of SVs.

Keywords

• psychological safety
• second victim
• healthcare workers
• patient safety incidents
• patient safety