Determination of Secondary Traumatic Stress Levels of Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Aim: Due to reasons such as excessive workloads of health workers and the insufficient number of employees, severe working conditions, shift work systems and long shift hours, working people have a high risk of suffering mental trauma. The study was conducted to determine the secondary traumatic stress levels of health workers.Method: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted with 212 healthcare professionals. The “Sociodemographic Characteristics Form” and “Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale” were used as data collection tools.Results: It was found that the secondary traumatic stress levels of health workers, the total score and the average score of the personnel working in internal units in all sub-dimensions were higher than the average of the medical personnel working in surgical units.Conclusion: As a result, secondary traumatic stress levels of healthcare workers were found to be higher than average in our study. The unit of work, regardless of the level of health personnel is high secondary traumatic stress, and secondary traumatic stress symptoms, to prevent employees reduce stress, indirect initiatives to minimize trauma reactions are needed. It is also proposed to conduct new research that will determine these initiatives.