Highlights
- •Second victim peer support programs aim to offload emotional labor and normalize the second victim experience
- •There is a need to evaluate the impact of second victim peer support programs
- •The Second Victim Experience and Support Tool evaluated the impact of a peer support program on second victim experiences
- •Peer support programs may foster increased awareness of ‘second victim’ experiences and a decrease in turnover intentions
Abstract
Purpose
Pediatric healthcare professionals (HCPs) may experience events that lead to psychological
distress or second victim experiences (SVEs). This project evaluates the impact of
a newly implemented peer support program on SVEs and perceptions of supportive resources
among pediatric HCPs.
Design and methods
A second victim (SV) peer support program was implemented in the pediatric inpatient
and intensive care units in September 2019. Multidisciplinary HCPs in these units
were invited to participate in an anonymous survey that included the Second Victim
Experience and Support Tool before and one-year after implementation. The survey assessed
HCPs' SVEs, desired support, and perceptions of the peer support program.
Results
52.0% (194/373) completed the pre-implementation survey, and 43.9% (177/403) completed
the post-implementation survey. At both timepoints, participants reported SV-related
psychosocial distress, physical distress, or low professional self-efficacy; the most
desired support was ‘a respected peer to discuss the details of what happened’. Following
implementation of the peer support program, HCPs were significantly more likely to
have heard of the term ‘second victim’ (51.8 vs. 74.0%; p < 0.001) and to have felt like there were adequate resources to support SVs (35.8%
vs. 89.1%; p < 0.001). In the post-implementation survey, most respondents indicated
a likelihood to use the program for themselves (65.7%) or colleagues (84.6%) after
involvement in future traumatic clinical events.
Conclusions
Implementation of a peer support program significantly influenced awareness and perceptions
of support available for SV-related distress.
Practice implications
Peer support programs should be implemented to help HCPs navigate SVEs and decrease
SV-related turnover intentions.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 07, 2021
Accepted:
August 23,
2021
Received in revised form:
August 17,
2021
Received:
April 29,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
