TY - JOUR
T1 - Key elements for designing effective second victim support interventions
T2 - a focus group study in European clinical settings
AU - Mira, José Joaquín
AU - Carrillo, Irene
AU - Gil-Hernández, Eva
AU - Strametz, Reinhard
AU - Knežević Krajina, Hana
AU - Schrøder, Katja
AU - Tella, Susanna
AU - Paiva, Sofia Guerra
AU - Knežević, Bojana
AU - Panella, Massimiliano
AU - Seys, Deborah
AU - Srulovici, Einav
AU - Põlluste, Kaja
AU - Vanhaecht, Kris
AU - Sousa, Paulo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.
PY - 2025/1/6
Y1 - 2025/1/6
N2 - Background The second victim (SV) experience limits the performance of health and care workers and places patients at risk. Peer support is recognised as the most effective, feasible and acceptable intervention to mitigate its impact. Objective To define a set of success factors when designing interventions to support SVs in health and care facilities based on expertise in different European countries. Setting International collaboration involving countries with diverse cultures, structures and legal frameworks. Design Qualitative research. Method Focus groups involving a total of 43 participants were conducted in five countries. Prominent professionals in European peer support interventions were engaged. Analysis of common elements considered key to the success of these programmes was underscored. Results Critical success factors for designing effective SV support interventions included the need for an occupational health approach, the establishment of a strong organisational safety culture, immediate psychological first aid, long-term resilience building, the engagement and training of peer supporters, the provision of adequate resources and ongoing support, the importance of leadership commitment and the necessity of tailoring interventions to the specific context and needs of each institution and country considering their diverse sociocultural and legal framework. The expected benefits included ensuring optimal patient care and reducing associated costs such as staff turnover and litigation. Conclusion Effective SV support interventions are essential for enhancing the resilience and performance of health and care workers, ultimately improving patient safety. By implementing tailored and well-resourced interventions, healthcare institutions can mitigate the negative impact of the SV phenomenon, promoting optimal care.
AB - Background The second victim (SV) experience limits the performance of health and care workers and places patients at risk. Peer support is recognised as the most effective, feasible and acceptable intervention to mitigate its impact. Objective To define a set of success factors when designing interventions to support SVs in health and care facilities based on expertise in different European countries. Setting International collaboration involving countries with diverse cultures, structures and legal frameworks. Design Qualitative research. Method Focus groups involving a total of 43 participants were conducted in five countries. Prominent professionals in European peer support interventions were engaged. Analysis of common elements considered key to the success of these programmes was underscored. Results Critical success factors for designing effective SV support interventions included the need for an occupational health approach, the establishment of a strong organisational safety culture, immediate psychological first aid, long-term resilience building, the engagement and training of peer supporters, the provision of adequate resources and ongoing support, the importance of leadership commitment and the necessity of tailoring interventions to the specific context and needs of each institution and country considering their diverse sociocultural and legal framework. The expected benefits included ensuring optimal patient care and reducing associated costs such as staff turnover and litigation. Conclusion Effective SV support interventions are essential for enhancing the resilience and performance of health and care workers, ultimately improving patient safety. By implementing tailored and well-resourced interventions, healthcare institutions can mitigate the negative impact of the SV phenomenon, promoting optimal care.
KW - Burnout, Professional
KW - Health & safety
KW - Occupational Stress
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-089923
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-089923
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 39762106
AN - SCOPUS:85214463869
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 15
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 1
M1 - e089923
ER -