Major trauma centre clinicians: who cares? A comprehensive study of major trauma centre clinicians: are they prone to increased levels of stress, burnout and secondary trauma symptoms?

Abstract

Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) treat the most severely injured patients. Clinicals working in MTCs and with trauma victims are regularly exposed to the most severe and tragic cases, which can result in burnout, compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress (STS). These can negatively impact on work performances, social relations, physical and psychological health. The present study aimed to investigate whether MTC consultants are at an increased risk of burnout, compassion fatigue, stress and STS compared to non-MTC consultants. It also sought to identify the contributing factors to stress and ways to manage stress at work and home. MTC orthopaedic and vascular consultants and non-MTC 'general' orthopaedic consultants completed questionnaires about their burnout, compassion fatigue, stress and STS. MTC consultants then took part in an interview asking what contributes to their stress and how they manage stress at work and at home. 20 consultants responded to the questionnaire, 11 MTC orthopaedic consultants, 4 MTC vascular consultants and 5 "general" orthopaedic consultants. 19 were male and 1 was female. MTC/ vascular consultants had higher median scores in perceived stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction and STS compared to non-MTC consultants. MTC/ vascular consultants identified their main cause of stress to be aspects relating to 'Time' and 'Personal factors'. To cope with stress, participants wanted to feel 'supported at work' and found 'distractions' at home, such as hobbies and exercise, to be beneficial. MTC/ vascular consultants are more likely to experience the negative consequences of working with trauma patients, such as burnout and STS, compared to non-MTC consultants. To cope with stress, they sought support from colleagues, peers and family and engaged in distracting activities at home. This study indicates that consultants working in MTCs are more likely to experience the adverse consequences, but more research is needed to examine the psychological impact and interventions.