Impact of adverse events on anesthetists' health: A Belgian case study

Background and objectives: an increasing number of studies have illustrated the potential impact of medical errors and patient injuries on healthcare providers. This has led clinicians to be considered as the “second victims” of patient harm. In this study, we explore the impact of adverse events on anesthetists’ physical and mental health using a reporting database from the University Hospital of Liège in Belgium.
Methods: we collected information on the impact of adverse events on anesthetists’ health using data from an incident/accident reporting system and from accident analysis meetings.
Results: feelings of anger, questioning, intrusive thoughts and feelings of guilt were the most frequently cited impacts on anesthetists’ health.
Conclusions: Patient injuries can profoundly affect anesthetists’ health. Debriefing in a climate of trust and empathy seems to be primordial.