ERNST Consortium study

ERNST Consortium has conducted a study to explore what supportive interventions are being implemented in Europe to enhance the resilience of healthcare professionals in stressful situations.

Through a cross-sectional study ₁ an online survey was conducted in 82 academics and clinicians who had formalized their membership in the COST Action 19113 and members formally to ERNST by September 2020, represented 27 European and one neighbouring country. The study period was from September 25 to December 15, 2020.

The survey explored the scientific profile of the participants, their interests, experiences in the topic, challenges, gaps, and related areas of second victims. In this study was conducted to know what, how, and where studies and interventions were being conducted in Europe in this issue.

Results:

• A total of 70 members answered, 97.1% from European countries, these were Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and 2.9% from a neighbour country this is Azerbaijan. 
• The 60.7% of participants reported the existence of patient safety standards that incorporate some form of care for professionals who experience the second victim symptoms. 
• The 37.1% of researchers involved in this COST Action were conducting studies or research underway on second victims or related issues (15 countries):

• 30% of the participants were involved in the design of interventions aimed at addressing the second victim phenomenon. 
• At the time of this survey the 42.9% of participants were participating in the implementation in health centers of any intervention aimed at addressing the second victim phenomenon.

1.  Carrillo I, Tella S, Strametz R. Studies on the second victim phenomenon and other related topics in the pan-European environment : The experience of ERNST Consortium members. J Patient Saf Risk Manag. 2022;1–7.