Key elements for designing effective second victim support interventions: a focus group study in European clinical...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare worker well-being
• Patient safety
• Occupational health psychology

Background:

• The second victim (SV) phenomenon negatively impacts healthcare worker performance and patient safety.
• Peer support is a recognized, effective intervention for mitigating SV impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify critical success factors for designing SV support interventions in European healthcare settings.
• To establish a framework for effective peer support programs for healthcare professionals experiencing SV events.

Main Methods:

• International qualitative research involving focus groups with 43 professionals across five European countries.
• Analysis of common elements crucial for successful peer support interventions.
• Exploration of diverse cultural, structural, and legal contexts.

Main Results:

• Key success factors include an occupational health approach, strong safety culture, psychological first aid, resilience building, trained peer supporters, adequate resources, and leadership commitment.
• Interventions must be tailored to institutional and national contexts, considering sociocultural and legal frameworks.
• Benefits include improved patient care and reduced costs (staff turnover, litigation).

Conclusions:

• Tailored, well-resourced SV support interventions are vital for healthcare worker resilience and performance.
• Implementing effective peer support programs enhances patient safety and mitigates the negative consequences of the SV phenomenon.