SynthesisThe British journal of surgery2025
Second victim syndrome in surgeons: systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of adverse events on surgeons.
Synthesis in The British journal of surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- "Talking to Someone Who Gets It…" Experiences of Surgical Site Teams in Implementing a Peer Support Programme for Surgeons After Adverse Events.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSecond victim syndrome (SVS) is characterized by negative psychological and psychosomatic effects on a healthcare provider after an adverse care event. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to characterize the symptoms of SVS experienced by surgeons and factors affecting their impact, as well as understand common coping strategies that surgeons employ to deal with them.
methodsA systematic review of five electronic databases was conducted without restrictions on publication date or language in January 2025. Second victim syndrome, surgeon, and adverse event and their synonyms were used as search terms. Records were screened, quality assessed, and data extracted by two independent researchers. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were included and narratively synthesized. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model to calculate the overall prevalence rates of symptoms and coping methods.
resultsA total of 36 papers were included in the analysis from 6629 retrieved records. Anxiety (56.3% (95% c.i. 45.8% to 66.3%)), guilt (53.8% (95% c.i. 41.3% to 65.8%)), sadness (48.3% (95% c.i. 34.6% to 62.3%)), and sleep disturbance (50.5% (95% c.i. 38.4% to 62.5%)) were the most commonly reported symptoms. Talking to either colleagues (72.5% (95% c.i. 65.6% to 78.4%)) or family/friends (52.0% (95% c.i. 40.6% to 63.2%)) were the most commonly employed coping strategies. The sex and level of experience of the surgeon and the severity of the event were identified as potential predictors of deleterious impact.
conclusionSVS significantly impacts surgeons' global well-being, leading to burnout and attrition. Effective interventions require a multifaceted approach, including peer support, resilience training, and institutional changes that normalize emotional responses, encourage disclosure, and address barriers to seeking help. Targeted support for at-risk groups may also be necessary.
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Registered trials
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