Research Day
IDENTIFYING THE PRESENCE OF SECONDARY TRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS AMONG EMERGENCY MEDICINE RESIDENTS AT WMU HOMER STRYKER MD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Document Type
Abstract
Date
2021
Abstract
Emergency physicians and residents face primary trauma daily while caring for patients at work and are at risk for secondary traumatic stress (STS). Prior research has shown that STS has a prevalence of 16-17% among health care workers in the acute care or trauma setting. Dr. Charles Figley defined STS as "the natural, consequent behaviors and emotions resulting from knowledge about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other. It is the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person." This study examined the emergency medicine resident population at WMU Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine to identify the prevalence of these STS symptoms. The secondary traumatic stress survey by Bride et al. was sent out to PGY1-PGY3 Emergency medicine residents. Respondents were kept anonymous and data were collected for cross-sectional analysis through REDCap. A total of 28 residents responded to the survey. All respondents reported experiencing primary trauma since starting residency and all participants reported at least one symptom of STS. Residents averaged experiencing 11 symptoms. Twenty-five percent (7/28) had at least one daily symptom. The most frequent daily symptom was "Expecting bad things to happen", while "Feeling Jumpy" was reported by the fewest residents. "Intrusive Thoughts" were experienced at least once per week by the most residents (53.6%). Our study suggests that STS symptoms are experienced by a significant number of emergency medicine residents at WMU and that trauma is experienced by emergency medicine residents with regularity.