Burnout increases after patient safety incident

Editor's Note

Physicians and nurses involved in a patient safety incident experience significant negative outcomes, this study finds.

Of 5,788 nurses and physicians analyzed, 9% had been involved in an incident during the prior 6 months.

Involvement in a patient safety incident was linked to:

• a greater risk of burnout (ß 0.40, OR 2.07)
• problematic medication use (ß 0.33, OR 1.84)
• greater work-home interference (ß 0.24)
• more turnover intentions (ß 0.22).

Harm to the patient as a result of the incident was a predictor of:

• problematic medication use (ß 0.14, OR 1.56)
• risk of burnout (ß 0.16, OR 1.62)
• work-home interference (ß 0.19).

An appropriate organizational response should be provided to physicians and nurses to mitigate the negative effects of a patient safety incident, the authors say.

Background: Human errors occur everywhere, including in health care. Not only the patient, but also the involved health professional is affected (ie, the "second victim"). Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of health care professionals being personally involved in a patient safety inciden...