Abstract:
The study investigated healthcare providers‘ experiences of adverse events
and the coping strategies adopted to deal with these experiences. The study
employed the descriptive cross-sectional survey research design in engaging
healthcare providers of two hospitals namely, the Ghana Police Hospital and
the Holy Family Hospital in Greater Accra and Bono East Regions
respectively. In all, 200 healthcare professionals were conveniently sampled
from the total population of 423 healthcare professionals who were targeted
for the study. Questionnaire was used in gathering data from respondents.
Data were analysed using frequencies and percentages, means and standard
deviations, multiple regression and one-way ANOVA. It came out that there
was a significant relationship between level of patient adverse outcome and
their psychological and physical distress. Again, the study found out that
second victims used both problem and emotional focused coping mechanism
to deal with the effects of adverse patients‘ outcomes. Social support, more
particularly colleagues‘ support, had a significant impact on the psychological
and physical distress of second victims. Finally, coping strategies (problem
focused disengagement) significantly impacted the psychological and physical
distress of second victims. The study concluded that following an adverse
medical outcome, second victims experience both psychological and physical
distress and that means of coping has impact on the wellbeing of healthcare
providers involved in adverse medical errors. The management of Ghana
Police Hospital and Holy Family Hospital are encouraged to provide the
necessary environment and training for staff to cope with second victim
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