Second Victim Phenomenon in an Austrian Hospital before the Implementation of the Systematic Collegial Help Program KoHi: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

(1) Background: The Second Victim Phenomenon (SVP) is widespread throughout health care institutions worldwide. Second Victims not only suffer emotional stress themselves; the SVP can also have a great financial and reputational impact on health care institutions. Therefore, we conducted a study (Kollegiale Hilfe I/KoHi I) in the Hietzing Clinic (KHI), located in Vienna, Austria, to find out how widespread the SVP was there. (2) Methods: The SeViD (Second Victims in Deutschland) questionnaire was used and given to 2800 employees of KHI, of which 966 filled it in anonymously. (3) Results: The SVP is prevalent at KHI (43% of the participants stated they at least once suffered from SVP), although less prevalent and pronounced than expected when compared to other studies conducted in German-speaking countries. There is still a need for action, however, to ensure a psychologically safer workspace and to further prevent health care workers at KHI from becoming psychologically traumatized.