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

Abstract

Introduction Patient safety incidents, including medical errors and adverse events, frequently occur in intensive care units, leading to a significant psychological burden on healthcare workers. This burden results in second victim syndrome, which impacts the psychological and psychosomatic well-being of these workers. However, a systematic review focusing specifically on this condition among intensive care unit healthcare workers is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the occurrence of second victim syndrome among intensive care unit healthcare workers, including the types, prevalence, risk factors, and recovery time associated with this condition. Methods We conducted a comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases. The eligibility criteria encompassed retrospective, prospective, and cross-sectional studies and controlled trials, with no language restrictions. Data on the type, prevalence, risk factors, and recovery time of second victim syndrome were extracted and pooled. Prevalence estimates from the included studies were combined using a random-effects meta-analytic model. Results Of the 2,245 records retrieved, 16 potentially relevant studies were identified. Following full-text evaluation, five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The findings revealed that 58% of intensive care unit healthcare workers experienced second victim syndrome. Frequent symptoms included guilt (12–68%), anxiety (38–63%), anger at self (25–58%), and lower self-confidence (7–58%). However, specific risk factors exclusive to intensive care unit healthcare workers were not identified in the review. Furthermore, approximately 20% of individuals took more than a year to recover or did not recover at all from the second victim syndrome. Conclusions Thus, this condition is prevalent among intensive care unit healthcare workers and may persist for extended periods, potentially exceeding a year. The risk factors for second victim syndrome in the intensive care unit setting are unclear and require further investigation.