Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the long term psychological sequelae of treating multiple victims of traumatic incidents, such as violent crime and motor vehicle accidents, and to assess staff exposure to violent patients in the emergency department.
Methods: A self administered questionnaire booklet was distributed to all full time and part time staff working within the Johannesburg Hospital Trauma Unit during September 2002. Participation was voluntary. The questionnaire was specifically designed for the study as no relevant, validated questionnaire was found to be suitable. Psychological assessment comprised two standardised measures, the impact of event scale-revised and the Maslach burnout inventory.
Results: Thirty eight staff members completed the questionnaire, a response rate of 90%. Over 40% of respondents had been physically assaulted while at work and over 90% had been verbally abused. Staff reported a significant level of post-traumatic symptoms, evaluated by the impact of event scale-revised ( median = 17.5, range = 0 - 88), as a result of critical incidents they had been involved in during the previous six months. At least half of the respondents also reported a "high'' degree of professional burnout in the three sub-scales of the Maslach burnout tnventory - that is emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment.
Conclusions: Preventative measures, such as increased availability of formal psychological support, should be considered by all trauma units to protect the long term emotional wellbeing of their staff.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 568-572 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Emergency Medicine Journal |
| Volume | 21 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2004 |
Keywords
- MENTAL-HEALTH
- BURNOUT
- STRESS
- VIOLENCE
- NURSES
- WORK
- CARE
- RESPONSES
- STAFF
Cite this
Are health professionals getting caught in the crossfire? The personal implications of caring for trauma victims. / Crabbe, J.; Boffard, K.; Bowley, D.; Alexander, David Alan; Klein, Susan.
In: Emergency Medicine Journal, Vol. 21, 2004, p. 568-572.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Are health professionals getting caught in the crossfire? The personal implications of caring for trauma victims
AU - Crabbe, J.
AU - Boffard, K.
AU - Bowley, D.
AU - Alexander, David Alan
AU - Klein, Susan
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Objectives: To investigate the long term psychological sequelae of treating multiple victims of traumatic incidents, such as violent crime and motor vehicle accidents, and to assess staff exposure to violent patients in the emergency department.Methods: A self administered questionnaire booklet was distributed to all full time and part time staff working within the Johannesburg Hospital Trauma Unit during September 2002. Participation was voluntary. The questionnaire was specifically designed for the study as no relevant, validated questionnaire was found to be suitable. Psychological assessment comprised two standardised measures, the impact of event scale-revised and the Maslach burnout inventory.Results: Thirty eight staff members completed the questionnaire, a response rate of 90%. Over 40% of respondents had been physically assaulted while at work and over 90% had been verbally abused. Staff reported a significant level of post-traumatic symptoms, evaluated by the impact of event scale-revised ( median = 17.5, range = 0 - 88), as a result of critical incidents they had been involved in during the previous six months. At least half of the respondents also reported a "high'' degree of professional burnout in the three sub-scales of the Maslach burnout tnventory - that is emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment.Conclusions: Preventative measures, such as increased availability of formal psychological support, should be considered by all trauma units to protect the long term emotional wellbeing of their staff.
AB - Objectives: To investigate the long term psychological sequelae of treating multiple victims of traumatic incidents, such as violent crime and motor vehicle accidents, and to assess staff exposure to violent patients in the emergency department.Methods: A self administered questionnaire booklet was distributed to all full time and part time staff working within the Johannesburg Hospital Trauma Unit during September 2002. Participation was voluntary. The questionnaire was specifically designed for the study as no relevant, validated questionnaire was found to be suitable. Psychological assessment comprised two standardised measures, the impact of event scale-revised and the Maslach burnout inventory.Results: Thirty eight staff members completed the questionnaire, a response rate of 90%. Over 40% of respondents had been physically assaulted while at work and over 90% had been verbally abused. Staff reported a significant level of post-traumatic symptoms, evaluated by the impact of event scale-revised ( median = 17.5, range = 0 - 88), as a result of critical incidents they had been involved in during the previous six months. At least half of the respondents also reported a "high'' degree of professional burnout in the three sub-scales of the Maslach burnout tnventory - that is emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment.Conclusions: Preventative measures, such as increased availability of formal psychological support, should be considered by all trauma units to protect the long term emotional wellbeing of their staff.
KW - MENTAL-HEALTH
KW - BURNOUT
KW - STRESS
KW - VIOLENCE
KW - NURSES
KW - WORK
KW - CARE
KW - RESPONSES
KW - STAFF
U2 - 10.1136/emj.2003.008540
DO - 10.1136/emj.2003.008540
M3 - Article
VL - 21
SP - 568
EP - 572
JO - Emergency Medicine Journal
JF - Emergency Medicine Journal
SN - 1472-0205
ER -