Department of Anesthesiology Skilled Peer Support Program Outcomes: Second Victim Perceptions

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Anesthesia providers frequently encounter adverse patient events.
• Skilled peer support programs (SPSPs) show promise in mitigating distress and improving coping mechanisms for healthcare professionals involved in adverse events.
• This study investigates the impact of a voluntary SPSP on second victim perceptions within an anesthesiology department.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a newly implemented skilled peer support program (SPSP) in an anesthesiology department.
• To assess changes in perceptions of institutional support and resource availability for clinicians experiencing serious adverse patient events.
• To determine if the SPSP improved clinicians' sense of organizational learning and adaptation following adverse events.

Main Methods:

• A skilled peer support program (SPSP) was implemented in a large anesthesiology department across multiple facilities.
• Surveys were administered to clinicians before SPSP implementation and 18 months post-implementation.
• Logistic regression models analyzed differences in perceived support and organizational learning among clinicians who experienced adverse events, adjusting for role and night shifts.

Main Results:

• Post-implementation, 62.5% of respondents reported improved institutional support.
• Clinicians were significantly more likely to agree that the organization learned from events and took steps to prevent recurrence (aOR 3.9).
• A significant increase in perceived formal emotional support availability was observed (aOR 5.2).

Conclusions:

• Implementing a skilled peer support program in anesthesiology departments can enhance institutional emotional support for clinicians.
• SPSPs contribute to a more supportive environment for healthcare professionals following adverse patient events.
• The findings suggest that structured peer support positively influences perceptions of organizational response and learning.