Citation

Van Gerven E, Vander Elst T, Vandenbroeck S, Dierickx S, Euwema M, Sermeus W, De Witte H, Godderis L, Vanhaecht K. Med. Care. 2016; 54(10): 937-943.

Affiliation

*Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, KU Leuven, Leuven †Knowledge, Information and Research Center (KIR), Idewe, Brussels ‡Occupational & Organisational Psychology and Professional Learning §Environment and Health, KU Leuven, Leuven ∥Department of Family Medicine & Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ixelles ¶Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Ghent #Optentia Research Focus Area, Vanderbijlpark, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa **General Management, University Hospitals Leuven & Flemish Hospital Network ††Department of Public Health & Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, American Public Health Association, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/MLR.0000000000000582

PMID

27213542

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human errors occur everywhere, including in health care. Not only the patient, but also the involved health professional is affected (ie, the "second victim").

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of health care professionals being personally involved in a patient safety incident (PSI), as well as the relationship of involvement and degree of harm with problematic medication use, excessive alcohol consumption, risk of burnout, work-home interference (WHI), and turnover intentions. RESEARCH DESIGN: Multilevel path analyses were conducted to analyze cross-sectional survey data from 37 Belgian hospitals. SUBJECTS: A total of 5788 nurses (79.4%) and physicians (20.6%) in 26 acute and 11 psychiatric hospitals were included. MEASURES: "Involvement in a patient safety incident during the prior 6 months," "degree of harm," and 5 outcomes were measured using self-report scales.

RESULTS: Nine percent of the total sample had been involved in a PSI during the prior 6 months. Involvement in a PSI was related to a greater risk of burnout (β=0.40, OR=2.07), to problematic medication use (β=0.33, OR=1.84), to greater WHI (β=0.24), and to more turnover intentions (β=0.22). Harm to the patient was a predictor of problematic medication use (β=0.14, OR=1.56), risk of burnout (β=0.16, OR=1.62), and WHI (β=0.19).

CONCLUSIONS: Second victims experience significant negative outcomes in the aftermath of a PSI. An appropriate organizational response should be provided to mitigate the negative effects.

Language: en