Vicarious Trauma Among Nurses Working in Addiction Services and the Role of Leadership: A European Mixed Methods Study

Background: Vicarious trauma (VT) is a profound concern for healthcare professionals, particularly those serving in addiction services. Patients with addiction issues often have traumatic backgrounds, and nurses working in this field are particularly susceptible to experiencing VT. This research investigated the risk factors, protective factors, and the role of organizational leadership in VT among nursing staff, highlighting the urgency of recognizing and proactively addressing this phenomenon.

Aim and Objectives: The study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk of VT among nurses in addiction services across Europe, with a specific focus on the relationship between leadership and VT. The objectives included: quantifying VT prevalence and its related factors, assessing the connection between leadership and VT incidence, exploring nurses' VT experiences, and investigating their perceptions of leadership's role in VT reduction. The ultimate goal was to utilize these findings to create evidence-based guidelines for minimizing VT among addiction services nurses, with a strong emphasis on improving leadership practices.

Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was used, which consisted of a quantitative survey involving 175 European nurses and qualitative interviews with a sample of 15 participants. 

Key Findings: The research uncovered critical findings that should not be overlooked:

• Approximately 90% of European nurses working in addiction services are at a moderate to high risk of developing VT, signifying a pressing concern that demands immediate attention.
• The vulnerability to VT varied with age and education level, underlining the importance of tailored support.
• Nurses employing coping mechanisms such as education, social support, peer support, healthy lifestyles, and self-care, were at lesser risk of developing VT.
• Notably, the findings revealed that organizational leadership is currently not proactively addressing VT among nurses, highlighting a crucial gap in support structures.

Conclusion and Implications: Vicarious trauma presents a significant threat to nurses working in addiction services, given their constant exposure to patients' traumatic experiences. This research not only identified risk and protective factors but also unveiled shortcomings in organizational leadership that may contribute to the increased risk of VT among nurses. Most significantly, VT often goes unacknowledged within the nursing workforce in addiction services. The integration of findings from both study phases informed the development of guidelines that might help address and mitigate the impact of vicarious trauma in this critical healthcare context.

In conclusion, this research directly aligns with the conference's theme of workforce empowerment, addressing a critical issue in addiction services.