Second Victims Among Austrian Nurses (SeViD-A2 Study)

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Professional Well-being
• Patient Safety

Background:

• The Second Victim Phenomenon (SVP) negatively impacts healthcare professionals and patient safety.
• Limited data exists on SVP prevalence and factors among nurses in Austria.
• This study addresses this gap by investigating Austrian nurses' experiences with SVP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of SVP among Austrian nurses.
• To identify factors associated with SVP, including symptomatology.
• To explore preferred support measures for nurses experiencing SVP.

Main Methods:

• Nationwide, cross-sectional, anonymous online survey (September-December 2023).
• Utilized the SeViD questionnaire and the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10).
• Statistical analyses included logistic and linear regression with bootstrapping.

Main Results:

• High prevalence: 81.58% of 928 surveyed Austrian nurses identified as Second Victims (SVs).
• Aggressive behavior from patients/relatives was the primary trigger for SVP.
• Females and highly agreeable individuals reported higher symptom loads; 92.47% preferred peer support.

Conclusions:

• SVP is highly prevalent among Austrian nurses, frequently triggered by aggression.
• Tailored support, including peer support and organizational interventions, is essential.
• Further research should focus on developing and implementing effective SVP prevention and intervention programs.