ObjectiveSecond victims are defined as healthcare workers involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event, who experienced professional and psychological distress. The Second Victim Experience and Support Tool (SVEST) is a survey developed and validated in the United States, which describes the experience of second victims. This study aims to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the SVEST and to evaluate its psychometric characteristics in the Italian context.MethodsTranslation and cross-cultural adaptation process was performed according to the World Health Organization guidelines. Then, 349 healthcare workers, including nurses, doctors, residents, and technicians, involved in direct patient care—a potential second victim—completed the Italian version of SVEST in a validation survey at the Academic Hospital of Udine. The SVEST consists of 29 items, divided into 7 dimensions, 2 outcome variables, and 7 support options. The Italian version was assessed for internal consistency through Cronbach α, for content validity with content validity index for scales and for item and for construct validity with Confirmatory Factor Analysis.ResultsThe internal consistency of the instrument was adequate in its overall evaluation with Cronbach α value of 0.88 (95% confidence interval = 0.86). The content validity index for scales was 0.94 and that for item was 0.70. The confirmatory factor analysis results showed a good model fit for the 9-factor structure (χ2 = 676.18, df = 327, P < 0.001). Root mean squared error of approximation, Akaike information criterion, and comparative fix index Tucker-Lewis index values also suggested a good fit to the data.ConclusionsThe Italian version of the SVEST can be used to evaluate second victim experiences, demonstrating adequate validity, reliability, and good psychometric properties.

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Highlights This is a prevalence study in the Italian province of Udine. We study SARS-CoV-2 tests in persons with and without comorbidities. Patients with comorbidities are tested more than the others. Prevalence of positive test is not increased in patients with most chronic conditions.

Background ”Second victims” are defined as “healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in an unanticipated adverse patient event, who experienced professional and psychological distress”. The Second Victim Experience and Support Tool (SVEST) is a survey developed and validated in the United States, which describes the experience of second victims. This study aims to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the SVEST and to evaluate its psychometric characteristics in the Italian context. Methods The translation and cross-cultural adaptation process was performed according to the World Health Organization’s guidelines, from March to May 2019. Then HCWs involved in direct patient care (a potential second victim) were asked to complete the Italian version of SVEST in a validation survey, from June to November 2019 at the Academic Hospital of Udine. SVEST consists of 29 items, divided into 7 dimensions, 2 outcome variables and 7 support options. The IT-SVEST was assessed for internal consistency through Cronbach’s α, for content validity with Content Validity Index for Scales (S-CVI) and for Item (I-CVI) and for construct validity with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results Collected surveys were 349. Women were 79.4%. Nurses were 40.1%, 18.9% were doctors and 8.6% were residents. HCWs involved in a patients’ adverse event were 205 (58.7%). Out of these, 66.3% were near misses. The internal consistency of the instrument was adequate in its overall evaluation with Cronbach α = 0.88 (95% C.I.=0.86). S-CVI was 0.94 and I-CVI was 0.70. The CFA results showed a good model fit for the nine-factor structure (chi2=676.18, 327 df, p &lt; 0.001). Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation, Akaike’s information criterion, Comparative Fix Index Tucker-Lewis Index values also suggested a good fit to the data. Conclusions The Italian version of the SVEST (IT-SVEST) can be used to evaluate second victim experiences, demonstrating adequate validity, reliability and good psychometric properties. Key messages Healthcare institutions need an instrument that can direct efforts to prevent and reduce the second victim experience. IT-SVEST is a reliable and valid instrument to obtain accurate information on second victim experience.

Introduction Healthcare workers (HCWs) can experience psychological distress if involved in adverse patient events, becoming second victims. The aim of this study is to determine the extension of the second victim phenomenon and the preference of the support resources of the HCWs working in the Department of Maternal and Child Health (DMC) at the Academic Hospital of Udine. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out from June to November 2019. All HCWs involved in direct patient care working in the three units of DMC [Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OG), Neonatology (Neo), Pediatrics (Ped)] were included. A validated version in Italian language of the Second Victim Experience and Support Tool (SVEST) was used to assess the experience of second victim and the support resources preferred by the HCWs (Likert-scale: 1-5). Agreement of the support options were considered with an overall mean subscale score of ≥ 4.0. The Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used to calculate the statistically significant differences (p &lt; 0.01). Results The response rate was 44,9% (120/267). Women were 95.8%. Mean age was 38.7±9.7; HCWs from OG were 48.3%, 26.7% from Neo and 25% from Ped. Nurses were 34.2%, 32.5% were obstetrics, 15.8% were doctors and 8.3% were residents. HCWs who experienced adverse patient events were 80 (66.7%). Out of these, 63 (52.5%) were near-miss events. The overall mean score of the first two dimensions of SVEST (”Psychological distress” and “Physical distress”, as representative of the trauma experience) was respectively 3.3±1.0 and 2.3±1.1. The difference between their scores was statistically significant (p &lt; 0.01). The most preferred support option was: “a respected peer to discuss the details of what happened” with the 80.0%. Conclusions The study highlights that HCWs of the DMC are frequently involved in adverse patient events. Psychological distress was significative more impactful than physical distress. The majority of HCWs preferred a peer for colleagues support. Key messages SVEST is an instrument that helps to determine the support resources preferred by HCWs in order to develop a support program for second victim. A peer for colleagues support is the support resource preferred by the HCWs working in the Department of Maternal and Child Health.