Hyperacute stroke and the specialist nursing impact: exploring the cause and context of feelings of secondary traumatic stress – a qualitative inquiry

2021 ◽  
pp. 174498712110187
Author(s):  
Mark Wilkinson ◽  
Nigel Cox ◽  
Gary Witham ◽  
Carol Haigh
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Moral Distress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Narrative Design ◽  
Hyperacute Stroke ◽  
Specialist Nurses ◽  
Purposive Sample

Background Secondary traumatic stress (STS) has been defined as the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatised or suffering person. The hyperacute nature of stroke specialist nurses’ work places them at risk of developing STS. Aims To explore the factors that are influential in stroke specialist nurses' experience of STS development within hyperacute practice. Methods This study is qualitative with a narrative design. Data were collected from a purposive sample of stroke specialist nurses (20 female and 2 male) working in hyperacute services during the years 2016 and 2017. Data were analysed using Polkinghorne’s approach. Results This research identified four themes: exposure to acute suffering and death- young presentations; moral distress; interactions with relatives and problematic healthcare systems. Conclusion The findings from this study suggest that stroke specialist nurses are exposed to multiple triggers which are commensurate with the potential for STS development. The findings contribute a new understanding of the emotional burden of hyperacute specialist stroke nursing that has implications for patient safety and satisfaction, services provision and staff well-being.

scholarly journals Moral Distress, Mattering, and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Provider Burnout: A Call for Moral Community

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-157
Author(s):  
Elizabeth G. Epstein ◽  
Julie Haizlip ◽  
Joan Liaschenko ◽  
David Zhao ◽  
Rachel Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Moral Distress ◽  
Health Care Organizations ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Moral Communities ◽  
Sense Of Mattering

Burnout incurs significant costs to health care organizations and professionals. Mattering, moral distress, and secondary traumatic stress are personal experiences linked to burnout and are byproducts of the organizations in which we work. This article conceptualizes health care organizations as moral communities—groups of people united by a common moral purpose to promote the well-being of others. We argue that health care organizations have a fundamental obligation to mitigate and prevent the costs of caring (eg, moral distress, secondary traumatic stress) and to foster a sense of mattering. Well-functioning moral communities have strong support systems, inclusivity, fairness, open communication, and collaboration and are able to protect their members. In this article, we address mattering, moral distress, and secondary traumatic stress as they relate to burnout. We conclude that leaders of moral communities are responsible for implementing systemic changes that foster mattering among its members and attend to the problems that cause moral distress and burnout.

Mindfulness Integrated Cognitive Behavioural Intervention: Effects on Palliative Cancer Care Professionals

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2021-003318
Author(s):  
Amanpreet Kaur ◽  
Mahendra P Sharma ◽  
Santosh K Chaturvedi
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Mindfulness Skills ◽  
Professional Quality ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural

ObjectiveBeing a palliative cancer care professional is challenging and stressful. In recent decades, there has been more interest in mindfulness to improve overall well-being of healthcare professionals. Mindfulness integrated cognitive behavioural interventions (MICBI) are more practical, flexible and understandable than traditional psychological therapies alone. There is a dearth of studies in India with no psychological intervention in palliative cancer care professionals to date. The aim was to examine the effects of MICBI for professional care workers at palliative cancer care centres in Bengaluru city of Southern India.MethodsA single group study design was adopted with pre, post and 3-month follow-up assessment with a sample of 25 participants working full-time at a hospice. The MICBI programme was for six sessions, once a week for 2–2.5 hours. Outcome variables were professional quality of life measures (burnout, secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfaction), psychological well-being score and mindfulness skills score (assessed using Professional Quality of Life Scale-V.5, Psychological Well-Being Scale and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire). Wilcoxon signed rank test and Friedman test analysed differences between pre, post and follow-up data.ResultsThe MICBI could significantly reduce burnout and secondary traumatic stress; it improved compassion satisfaction, psychological well-being and mindfulness skills; treatment gains were maintained at 3 months follow-up.ConclusionsMICBI was feasible and effective for palliative cancer care professionals with implications for training, practice and future research.PROSPERO registration numberThe study was registered under the Clinical Trials Registry- India (CTRI) (number: CTRI/2018/03/019170).

scholarly journals Exploration of the Association between Nurses’ Moral Distress and Secondary Traumatic Stress Syndrome: Implications for Patient Safety in Mental Health Services

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Christodoulou-Fella ◽  
Nicos Middleton ◽  
Elizabeth D. E. Papathanassoglou ◽  
Maria N. K. Karanikola
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Moral Distress ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Stress Syndrome ◽  
Distress Symptoms ◽  
Distress Scale

Work-related moral distress (MD) and secondary traumatic stress syndrome (STSS) may be associated with compromised health status among health professionals, reduced productivity, and inadequate safety of care. We explored the association of MD with the severity of STSS symptoms, along with the mediating role of mental distress symptoms. Associations with emotional exhaustion and professional satisfaction were also assessed. This cross-sectional survey conducted in 206 mental health nurses (MHNs) was employed across public sector community and hospital settings in Cyprus. The analysis revealed that MD (measured by the modified Moral Distress Scale) was positively associated with both STSS (measured by the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale) and mental distress symptoms (assessed by the General Health Questionnaire-28). The association of MD with STSS symptoms was partially mediated by mental distress symptoms. This association remained largely unchanged after adjusting for gender, age, education, rank, and intention to quit the job. Our findings provide preliminary evidence on the association between MD and STSS symptomatology in MHNs. Situations that may lead health professionals to be in moral distress seem to be mainly related to the work environment; thus interventions related to organizational empowerment of MHNs need to be developed.

scholarly journals The Job Demands and Resources Related to COVID-19 in Predicting Emotional Exhaustion and Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Health Professionals in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer E. Moreno-Jiménez ◽  
Luis Manuel Blanco-Donoso ◽  
Mario Chico-Fernández ◽  
Sylvia Belda Hofheinz ◽  
Bernardo Moreno-Jiménez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychosocial Risks ◽  
Job Demands And Resources

The current COVID-19 crisis may have an impact on the mental health of professionals working on the frontline, especially healthcare workers due to the increase of occupational psychosocial risks, such as emotional exhaustion and secondary traumatic stress (STS). This study explored job demands and resources during the COVID-19 crisis in predicting emotional exhaustion and STS among health professionals. The present study is a descriptive and correlational cross-sectional design, conducted in different hospitals and health centers in Spain. The sample consisted of 221 health professionals with direct involvement in treating COVID-19. An online survey was created and distributed nationwide from March 20 to April 15 which assessed: sociodemographic and occupational data, fear of contagion, contact with death/suffering, lack of material and human protection resources (MHRP), challenge, emotional exhaustion, and STS. Descriptive findings show high levels of workload, contact with death/suffering, lack of MHPR and challenge, and are moderately high for fear of contagion, emotional exhaustion, and STS. We found an indirect significant effect of lack of MHPR on predicting (1) emotional exhaustion through the workload and (2) on STS through fear of contagion, contact with death/suffering, and workload. To conclude, this study examines the immediate consequences of the crisis on health professionals' well-being in Spain, emphasizing the job demands related to COVID-19 that health professionals are facing, and the resources available in these health contexts. These findings may boost follow-up of this crisis among health professionals to prevent them from long-term consequences.

“Being With Woman”: Is There a Cost for Midwives and Students Attending Traumatic Births?

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-191
Author(s):  
Cheryl Tatano Beck ◽  
Barbara A. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Traumatic Birth ◽  
Workforce Retention ◽  
Workforce Issue ◽  
Childbearing Women ◽  
Workforce Attrition

Witnessing and/or providing care during a traumatic birth increases vulnerability to secondary traumatic stress, with potential effects on mental health of and attrition among the midwifery workforce. With the global shortage of the midwifery workforce, retention and peak functioning are critical to the well-being of childbearing women and their infants. PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched to identify studies that examined secondary traumatic stress in both midwives and midwifery students. Fifteen studies were located from eight different countries. Four of these studies examined secondary traumatic stress in midwifery students and 11 in practicing midwives. This article discusses the limited research on secondary traumatic stress among midwives and students who have attended or witnessed traumatic births. The vulnerability and potential workforce attrition of midwives and students experiencing secondary traumatic stress are highlighted. The development of a comprehensive body of literature is needed on prevalence, impact, clinical implications, and healing strategies addressing this workforce issue.

scholarly journals Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious posttraumatic growth in healthcare workers during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Greece: The role of resilience and coping strategies

Psychiatriki ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Argyroula Kalaitzaki ◽  
Michael Rovithis
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Maladaptive Coping ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
And Coping

Despite the indisputable negative psychosocial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, positive consequences are also possible. Resilience and coping strategies have been assumed to contribute to these outcomes. However, findings are still scarce and inconclusive. The study aimed to examine the role of resilience and coping strategies in the secondary stress for the Greek healthcare workers (HCWs) and in the posttraumatic growth following the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece. A sample of 673 HCWs coming from Greece were recruited. A convenience and snowball mixed sampling procedure were used. A questionnaire was distributed through social networking sites, webpages, and personal contacts of the author. Participants were asked to distribute it to their own contacts. Recruitment occurred during April 5 - 30, 2000, amid the lockdown (March 23-May 03), when people were asked to follow the stringent lockdown constraint enforced by the Greek government. Sociodemographic data were collected. The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale measured secondary traumatic stress (STS) for the HCWs. The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory measured posttraumatic growth, resilience, and coping strategies, respectively. Regression analyses demonstrated that resilience and coping strategies were differentially associated with positive and negative (stress/growth) lockdown outcomes. Resilience and mostly maladaptive coping strategies predicted STS. A mixture of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies predicted PTG. The so-called “second wave” of the outbreak that started in August 2020 indicates that the study of the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown and of the internal resources (resilience and coping) to deal with, is necessary. The findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the coping strategies used by population subgroups (e.g., HCWs) in dealing with the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece. Enhancing internal resources through supportive services will ameliorate HCWs ability to withstand, recover, and thrive with benefits in their psychological health and well-being. Despite the indisputable negative psychosocial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, positive consequences are also possible. Resilience and coping strategies have been assumed to contribute to these outcomes. However, findings are still scarce and inconclusive. The study aimed to examine the role of resilience and coping strategies in the secondary stress for the Greek healthcare workers (HCWs) and in the posttraumatic growth following the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece. A sample of 673 HCWs coming from Greece were recruited. A convenience and snowball mixed sampling procedure were used. A questionnaire was distributed through social networking sites, webpages, and personal contacts of the author. Participants were asked to distribute it to their own contacts. Recruitment occurred during April 5 - 30, 2000, amid the lockdown (March 23-May 03), when people were asked to follow the stringent lockdown constraint enforced by the Greek government. Sociodemographic data were collected. The Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale measured secondary traumatic stress (STS) for the HCWs. The Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory measured posttraumatic growth, resilience, and coping strategies, respectively. Regression analyses demonstrated that resilience and coping strategies were differentially associated with positive and negative (stress/growth) lockdown outcomes. Resilience and mostly maladaptive coping strategies predicted STS. A mixture of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies predicted PTG. The so-called “second wave” of the outbreak that started in August 2020 indicates that the study of the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown and of the internal resources (resilience and coping) to deal with, is necessary. The findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the coping strategies used by population subgroups (e.g., HCWs) in dealing with the COVID-19 lockdown in Greece. Enhancing internal resources through supportive services will ameliorate HCWs ability to withstand, recover, and thrive with benefits in their psychological health and well-being.

scholarly journals Risk of Secondary Traumatic Stress in Treating Traumatized Military Populations: Results from the PTSD Clinicians Exchange

2020 ◽  
Vol 185 (9-10) ◽  
pp. e1728-e1735
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A Penix ◽  
Kristina M Clarke-Walper ◽  
Felicia L Trachtenberg ◽  
Ashley M Magnavita ◽  
Erica Simon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Community Practice ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Assessment Period ◽  
Military Populations

Abstract Introduction This study examined risk factors for secondary traumatic stress (STS) in behavioral health clinicians and whether access to the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Clinicians Exchange website mitigated STS risk. Methods A diverse sample of clinicians (N = 605) treating traumatized military populations in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense, and community practice settings were randomized to a newsletter-only control group or the exchange group. The exchange website included resources for treating PTSD and promoting clinician well-being. Online surveys were administered at 0-, 6-, and 12-months postrandomization. Regression analyses were used to examine the link among risk factors, exchange access, and STS. Results Baseline clinician demographics, experience, total caseload, appeal of evidence-based practices (EBPs), and likelihood of adopting EBPs if required were not linked with STS at the 12-month assessment period. Providing care at the VA, more burnout, less compassion satisfaction, greater trauma caseload, less openness to new EBPs, and greater divergence from EBP procedures were linked with greater STS. Only burnout and divergence were associated with STS after accounting for other significant STS risk factors. Exchange and control group clinicians reported similar STS levels after accounting for burnout and divergence. Conclusions Given that burnout was linked with STS, future intervention may use techniques targeting burnout and STS (eg, emotion regulation strategies). Research exploring the link between divergence from EBPs and STS may inform EBP dissemination efforts and STS interventions. Finally, results highlight the need for research optimizing STS intervention efficacy among clinicians treating military populations.

scholarly journals Psychological Capital Protects Social Workers from Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delia Vîrgă ◽  
Elena-Loreni Baciu ◽  
Theofild-Andrei Lazăr ◽  
Daria Lupșa
Keyword(s):  
Social Workers ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Capital ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Modeling Framework

Summary: To counteract the negative consequences inherent to the emotionally demanding professions like social work, we need to advance the understanding of the resources that preserve the employees’ well-being. This study investigated the role of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) in protecting social workers from developing burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). The design of the study builds on the job demands-resources model and the conservation of resources theory. A national sample of 193 Romanian social workers participated in the study. We used the structural equation modeling framework for data analysis. We tested two structural models that had burnout as a mediator for the relationship between PsyCap and STS: A partial mediation model and a total mediation model. Findings: The total mediation model was supported by our data suggesting that PsyCap has a protective role against burnout, and subsequently, STS. Moreover, the results indicate that burnout is the critical link between personal resources and STS. Applications: The results of the study contribute to enhancing the protection of the social workers’ well-being in their professional settings, by advancing the knowledge about the resources that need to be developed in order to prevent or reduce the negative job consequences associated with helping professions. As such, increasing PsyCap levels of employees enhance the sustainability of their working conditions.

Secondary Traumatic Stress and Related Factors in Australian Social Workers and Psychologists

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-130
Author(s):  
Samantha Rayner ◽  
Cindy Davis ◽  
Matthew Moore ◽  
Tamara Cadet
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Trauma History ◽  
Personal Trauma

Abstract Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is an indirect form of trauma affecting the psychological well-being of mental health workers. This study examined STS and related factors of empathetic behavior and trauma caseload among a purposive sample of 190 social workers and psychologists. Participants completed an online questionnaire comprising demographics, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, and the Empathy Scale for Social Workers. A moderated moderation model was used to evaluate the hypothesized relationship between the amount of trauma in clinician caseload and STS, as moderated by empathy and personal trauma history. Approximately 30 percent of participants met the criteria for a diagnosis of STS. Results indicated that although caseload trauma was not an independent predictor of STS, there was a significant interaction between caseload trauma and personal trauma history on STS. Similarly, empathy alone was not directly related to changes in STS, yet the trauma in caseload effect on STS was moderated by empathy, and that relationship was moderated by personal trauma history. This overall effect was shown to significantly predict STS. The current study highlights the importance of developing evidence-based risk strategies for mental health workers working in the area of trauma and at risk of developing symptoms of STS.

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