Scoping Review of Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Among Nurses: Current Knowledge and Research Gaps

Yitong Cai,1 Ming Liu,2 Weixiang Luo,3 Jingping Zhang,1 Chaoran Qu4 1Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China; 2Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Nursing, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; the First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Operating Room, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jingping Zhang, Xiangya School of Nursing, Central South University, No. 172, Tong-Zi-Po Road, Yue Lu District, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Chaoran Qu, Department of Operating Room, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Nurses frequently experience both direct and indirect trauma, leading to significant psychological challenges. While much research has focused on the negative impacts of such trauma, less attention has been given to vicarious post-traumatic growth (VPTG). Given the high levels of indirect trauma that nurses face, understanding VPTG is crucial for mitigating its adverse effects and enhancing mental health and work efficiency.Objective: To map and synthesize the literature on vicarious post-traumatic growth and identify key knowledge gaps in vicarious post-traumatic growth research.Methods: This scoping review follows the approach proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. We conducted this scoping review using the methodology recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute, supported by the PAGER framework. We searched 7 databases and gray literature on May 19, 2023 to obtain relevant research.Results: Finally, we included 29 studies from 9 countries. There are currently no reliable data on the incidence of vicarious post-traumatic growth among nurses worldwide. There are multiple instruments available to investigate vicarious post-traumatic growth in nurses, and the vicarious post-traumatic growth inventory is more recommended. Factors affecting nurses’ vicarious post-traumatic growth include coping styles, psychological factors, and social support. Indirect trauma exposure and vicarious post-traumatic growth coexist. There are currently three intervention strategies for vicarious post-traumatic growth, but none have been proven in clinical trials.Conclusion: This is the first scoping review on vicarious post-traumatic growth, there are a lot of research deficiencies and gaps in current research on vicarious post-traumatic growth for nurses. In view of the impact of secondary traumatic events on nurses, future research should pay more attention to nurses’ vicarious post-traumatic growth and promote the development of vicarious post-traumatic growth.Plain Language Summary: What is already known about the topic?Nurses are exposed to secondary traumatic events as part of their every-day work.Nurses experiencing these different secondary trauma exposures experience both positive and negative outcomes, but there has been less research on vicarious post-traumatic growth.The influencing factors of nurses’ vicarious post-traumatic growth and its related survey tools are not clear yet.What this paper addsGender, trauma type, and nurses’ core beliefs, self-efficacy, coping styles, and social support are influencing factors of vicarious post-traumatic growth.Currently, vicarious post-traumatic growth -related survey tools are roughly divided into three types, among which secondary posttraumatic growth inventory and vicarious post-traumatic growth inventory tools are specific survey tools.There are various relationships between indirect exposure to trauma and vicarious post-traumatic growth, and there are differences between different types of indirect trauma exposure. However, there is basically a consensus that indirect exposure to trauma and vicarious post-traumatic growth coexist. There are currently no targeted, scalable, and repeatable interventions for vicarious post-traumatic growth.Keywords: nurse, vicarious post-traumatic growth, secondary traumatic, scoping review