This literature review explores how interacting with seriously traumatized people has the potential to affect health-care workers. The review begins with an introduction to post-traumatic stress disorder as being one of the possible negative consequences of exposure to traumatic events. The report proceeds with examining the concepts of vicarious traumatization, secondary traumatic stress, traumatic countertransference, burnout and compassion fatigue, as potential adverse consequences for workers who strive to help people who are traumatized. The differences between these concepts are also discussed. The notion of compassion satisfaction is examined as findings have demonstrated that it is a protective factor which can be used as a buffer to prevent the aforementioned concepts. Conversely, findings have shown that a history of previous stressful life events in helpers is a potential risk factor. The review concludes with an overview of the concepts considered, but cautions against generalization of the findings owing to the dearth of longitudinal studies into the issues raised and also the lack of investigation into the many different types of trauma.

The disturbed cardiovascular regulatory pattern associated with job strain may help explain the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases linked with occupational exposure.

This quantitative and qualitative longitudinal study was designed to examine the effects on caregivers working therapeutically with seriously traumatized people. The participants were 13 healthcare workers seconded into a trauma and recovery team (TRT) set up to help those traumatized by the Omagh bombing on 15 August 1998. Quantitative data were collected using the Compassion Satisfaction/Fatigue Test and the Life Status Review Questionnaire. Qualitative data regarding positive and negative aspects of working with traumatized individuals, as well as caregiver's experience leaving the TRT, were gathered using open-ended questions contained in the final data set. These questionnaires were completed at four points in time: August 1998, December 1998, August 1999 and February 2001. Ethical approval for the study was gained from the Sperrin Lakeland Trust research committee. Analysis of the quantitative data indicated that levels of compassion fatigue and burnout increased, respectively, from 18.85 to 34.46 and 22.38 to 29.69 over the first year. Levels of compassion satisfaction decreased from 87.62 to 80.15, while levels of satisfaction with life (53.85 to 40.38) and life status (11.23 to 5.62) also decreased. Findings also demonstrated that compassion satisfaction is possibly a protective factor against compassion fatigue and burnout, in that caregivers with high compassion satisfaction scores were less likely to have corresponding high compassion fatigue and burnout scores. Findings from the qualitative data generated, revealed that team spirit and camaraderie, along with the satisfaction of seeing clients recover, were the most positive aspects of working in the team. Media interest, coping with and containing anger shown by bereaved relatives and dealing with the content of client's stories were the most negative. Themes to emerge from leaving the team included lack of understanding and support from non-trauma managers and an underestimation of the impact on caregivers of finishing in the team. Strategies that were found to be beneficial in helping to alleviate the negative effects of working with trauma were also elicited. This research has implications for practice, management and education.

The LigaSure 5 was superior to the other devices tested regarding the ability to seal vessels up to 7 mm. The ACE is an efficient vessel sealing system with the ability to seal vessels up to 5 mm.

BackgroundEvidence suggests that to facilitate physical activity sedentary people may adhere to one component of exercise prescriptions (intensity, duration or frequency) without adhering to other components. Some experts have provided evidence for determinants of adherence to different components among healthy people. However, our understanding remains scarce in this area for patients with neck or low back pain. The aims of this study are to determine whether patients with neck or low back pain have different rates of adherence to exercise components of frequency per week and duration per session when prescribed with a home exercise program, and to identify if adherence to both exercise components have distinct predictive factors.MethodsA cohort of one hundred eighty-four patients with chronic neck or low back pain who attended physiotherapy in eight primary care centers were studied prospectively one month after intervention. The study had three measurement periods: at baseline (measuring characteristics of patients and pain), at the end of physiotherapy intervention (measuring characteristics of the home exercise program) and a month later (measuring professional behaviors during clinical encounters, environmental factors and self-efficacy, and adherence behavior).ResultsAdherence to duration per session (70.9% ± 7.1) was more probable than adherence to frequency per week (60.7% ± 7.0). Self-efficacy was a relevant factor for both exercise components (p < 0.05). The total number of exercises prescribed was predictive of frequency adherence (p < 0.05). Professional behaviors have a distinct influence on exercise components. Frequency adherence is more probable if patients received clarification of their doubts (adjusted OR: 4.1; p < 0.05), and duration adherence is more probable if they are supervised during the learning of exercises (adjusted OR: 3.3; p < 0.05).ConclusionWe have shown in a clinic-based study that adherence to exercise prescription frequency and duration components have distinct levels and predictive factors. We recommend additional study, and advise that differential attention be given in clinical practice to each exercise component for improving adherence.