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“Second Victim” Syndrome Among the Surgeons from South Asia

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Abstract

Awareness of second victim syndrome and available support systems in South Asia is quite limited. We conducted this survey to assess its prevalence and impact among the surgeons from South Asia. A multiple choice pattern web-based cross-sectional Google forms questionnaire was developed which focused on demographics of respondent, prevalence, impact (physical, personal and professional), available coping mechanisms, gap in support systems, and future suggestions for dealing with “second victim” syndrome. Answers were sought from surgeons of all surgical specialties from South Asia. A total of 658 surgeons responded to the survey, 91.03% (n = 599) reported having experienced the “second victim” syndrome. Majority (54.3%) of respondents was from India; surgeons from 8 other countries also responded to the survey. Prevalence of “second victim” syndrome was found similar among the two genders, different experience groups, and different specialties (p > 0.05). A varied set of physical, psychological, and professional impacts were noted; however, any structured institute-based support system was lacking and victims sought help from colleagues. Development of a structured “crisis plans” providing emotional, psychological, and legal support, minimizing the trauma, and guiding the second victim through the recovery process is the need of the hour.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Milwaukee, Madison, WI, USA

    Gaurav Jain

  2. Department of Surgery, NSCB Government Medical College, Jabalpur, MP, 482003, India

    Dhananjaya Sharma & Pawan Agarwal

  3. Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, NSCB Government Medical College, Jabalpur, MP, 482003, India

    Vikesh Agrawal

  4. Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, NSCB Government Medical College, Jabalpur, MP, 482003, India

    Sanjay Kumar Yadav

  5. Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences, Thimphu, Bhutan

    Tashi Tenzin

  6. Department of Surgery, TMSS Medical College, Bogra, Bangladesh

    Moudud Hossain Alamgir

  7. National Academy of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Kishor Manandhar

  8. Department of Surgery, University of Medicine, Magway, Myanmar

    Moe Myint

  9. Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan

    Abdul Majeed Chaudhary

  10. Afghan Surgeon Society – West, Herat, Afghanistan

    Aziz Ahmad Jami

  11. Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand

    Supakorn Rojananin

  12. RO Diagen Cooperative Hospital, General Santos, Philippines

    Mohammad Mahbub ur Rahim

Authors
  1. Gaurav Jain
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  2. Dhananjaya Sharma
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  3. Pawan Agarwal
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  5. Sanjay Kumar Yadav
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  6. Tashi Tenzin
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  7. Moudud Hossain Alamgir
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  8. Kishor Manandhar
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  9. Moe Myint
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  10. Abdul Majeed Chaudhary
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  11. Aziz Ahmad Jami
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  12. Supakorn Rojananin
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  13. Mohammad Mahbub ur Rahim
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Correspondence to Dhananjaya Sharma.

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Jain, G., Sharma, D., Agarwal, P. et al. “Second Victim” Syndrome Among the Surgeons from South Asia. Indian J Surg 84, 40–46 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-021-02793-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-021-02793-3

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