Open Disclosure Among General Practitioners as Second Victim of a Patient Safety Incident: A Cross-Sectional Study in Flanders (Belgium).

Background: The impact of a patient safety incident (PSI) on nurses and doctors in hospital settings has been studied in depth. However, the impact of a PSI on general practitioners and how those health care professionals can be supported are less clear.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of GPs (in training) being personally involved in a PSI, as well as the impact, the support needed, and open disclosure in the aftermath of these PSIs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, conducted between January 3, 2022, and March 5, 2022, led to a sample of 78 GPs or GPs in training in Flanders (Belgium). Participants filled in more than 80% of a questionnaire that measured the involvement in a PSI during the prior year and their entire career, and the impact in terms of emotional symptoms, attitudes, the support needed, and open disclosure were included.

Results: In total, 78 responses of GPs (in training) filled in the questionnaire, of which 87.2% were involved in a PSI over the course of their entire career and 55.1% during the prior year. Often, such a PSI resulted in permanent patient harm or patient death. The PSI that stuck with the GPs the most had many negative consequences for the GP in question, such as hypervigilance (88.2%) and feelings of guilt (82.4%), stress (79.4%), and shame (75.0%). More than half of the respondents involved want substantive clarity (64.4%), and in case of 51.7% of the respondents, an open discussion with the patient and/or family took place afterwards.

Conclusions: This study shows that GPs, even in training, can be negatively impacted after a PSI. Only half of the respondents were involved in an open disclosure process, but the ones involved had a positive feeling after disclosure. More support is needed for health care professionals in the aftermath of a PSI in primary care, and this support could enhance their involvement in the open disclosure process.