Second victim syndrome in intensive care unit healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis on types, prevalence, risk factors, and recovery time.

https://psnet.ahrq.gov/issue/second-victim-syndrome-intensive-care-unit-healthcare-workers-systematic-review-and-meta Naya K, Aikawa G, Ouchi A, et al. PLoS One. 2023;18(10):e0292108. Healthcare workers who are involved in patient safety incidents and experience adverse psychological or emotional outcomes are often referred to as second victims. This systematic review and meta-analysis found that 58% of healthcare workers in intensive care unit (ICU) settings have experienced second victim outcomes, including guilt, anxiety, anger at oneself, and decreased self-confidence. The review also found that one in five individuals took longer than 12 months to recover or did not recover at all, underscoring the importance of organizational support programs for healthcare workers involved in patient safety incidents.