Construction and multidimensional effect evaluation of a mindfulness-based second victim intervention support programme for intensive care unit nurses: a case-control study.
Xiaolei Chen, Aiyan Du, Mei Yu, Cen Zhang, Xuefen Zhu, Yan Cao, Linghong Hua, Xiaodong Cao
BMC Nursing July 29, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-025-03478-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective case-control design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 104 |
| Population | ICU nurses who experienced adverse events |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based support programme |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological distress Second victim |
| Key findings | A mindfulness-based support program significantly reduced adverse event incidence, improved sleep quality, and lowered second victim distress scores among ICU nurses compared to routine psychological support. |
Abstract
Intensive care units (ICUs) are high-risk, high-stress environments that substantially increase the likelihood of nursing staff becoming second victims (SVs). However, current research on mindfulness interventions for ICU nurses facing SV effects is limited, particularly due to the lack of systematic intervention protocols tailored to the specific work scenarios of ICU staff. This study aims to construct and evaluate the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based SV intervention support programme for ICU nurses. A retrospective case-control design was employed. The experimental group comprised ICU nurses who experienced adverse events between January and December 2023 (n = 50) and received a mindfulness-based support programme. The control group (n = 54) consisted of nurses who reported adverse events between January and December 2022 and received routine psychological support. The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed by comparing the incidence of adverse events, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores and SV experience and support tool (SVEST) scores. During the intervention, the incidence of adverse events among ICU nurses in the experimental group decreased by 34%. The results from the PSQI scores indicated that the sleep quality of nurses in the experimental group was significantly better than in the control group after the intervention. Specifically, the PSQI score in the experimental group decreased from 12.94 ± 2.03 at baseline to 9.32 ± 2.13 post-intervention, whereas the control group's score only decreased from 12.76 ± 2.21 to 10.72 ± 1.99. The time effect, intergroup effect and interaction effect of the intervention were all significant (P < 0.01). Additionally, after the intervention, the total SVEST score in the experimental group (76.18 ± 11.74) was significantly lower than that in the control group (91.52 ± 12.71). The mindfulness-based support programme effectively alleviates the psychological distress experienced by ICU nurses as SVs, improves sleep quality and enhances the overall support effect. Not applicable.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 6
- Mindfulness‐based stress reduction for psychological distress among nurses: A systematic review Journal of Clinical Nursing July 3, 2019
- The effect of a mindfulness intervention (MI) on sleep disturbance (SD) among nurses. Scientific Reports March 1, 2024
- The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress and Burnout in Nurses Journal of Holistic Nursing May 17, 2021
- Mindfulness in healthcare professionals and medical education International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health January 22, 2021
- The mindfulness-based stress reduction program for improving sleep quality in cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine January 15, 2021
and 1 more in the library