The prevalence of second victim experiences and baseline resilience of South African shoulder and elbow surgeons

Abstract

Background: The second victim experience (SVE), defined as the emotional and psychological distress experienced by healthcare workers (HCWs) following adverse medical events, can result in either an individual’s growth or in increased staff turnover. Higher levels of resilience, the healthy ability to adapt to stress, has been shown to decrease the SVE. This study aimed to explore the SVE among the members of the Society of South African Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (SASES), delineate its prevalence, and determine its relationship to resilience.

Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised a retrospective review of a needs assessment survey, conducted in paper-based and online versions, over a six-week period around the SASES annual meeting in May 2023. The survey captured demographic details of members, measured by utilising the Second Victim Experience and Support Tool (SVEST), and the baseline resilience was measured using the 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 25 ©). The prevalence of the SVE and mean resilience were evaluated. Statistical analysis was conducted to test for association between SVEST and CD-RISC 25 © scores.

Results: There were 53 respondents of a total 77 SASES members, accounting for a response rate of 69%. All respondents were male (100%) with a median age of 54 years. Most respondents reported working in the private sector (77%) and had been in practice for a median of 18 years. The predominant negative effects of the SVE in respondents were psychological (59%) and physical distress (40%). The mean score for resilience was 75. Increased resilience scores were associated with a reduction in the negative effects of SVEs.

Conclusion: This study identified that nearly 60% of SASES members who undertook the survey suffered negative psychological effects, while 40% suffered negative physical effects, following an SVE as measured by the SVEST. Their mean baseline level of resilience (75 as measured by CD-RISC 25 ©) is in keeping with South African population norms. Future research should investigate other potential contributing factors to the high SVEST scores of orthopaedic surgeons, as targets for support initiatives to limit the experience.

Level of evidence: 4