Efficacy of Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention for Nurses in Emergency Units
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Psychoeducational Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Vicarious Trauma, Psychological Distress, Post-Traumatic Growth, Psychological, Psychological Well-being. Basic parameters: No limits · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Pakistan
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Efficacy of Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention for Nurses in Emergency Units: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth (VPTG) Intervention among nurses working in emergency units. Emergency nurses are frequently exposed to traumatic events through patient care, which may contribute to vicarious trauma and psychological distress. The intervention is designed to facilitate positive psychological growth, resilience, adaptive coping, and psychological well-being while reducing the adverse impact of indirect trauma exposure. Participants will be randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up periods to determine the effectiveness of the intervention in promoting vicarious post-traumatic growth and reducing vicarious trauma among emergency nurses.
Detailed description
Emergency nurses regularly encounter critically ill, injured, and dying patients, exposing them to repeated indirect traumatic experiences. Such exposure can lead to vicarious trauma, emotional exhaustion, and psychological distress. However, exposure to trauma may also contribute to positive psychological changes referred to as vicarious post-traumatic growth.
This study evaluates the efficacy of a structured Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention developed specifically for nurses working in emergency units. The intervention integrates psychoeducation, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, resilience enhancement strategies, emotional regulation skills, stress management techniques, and peer support activities.
A randomized controlled trial design will be employed. Eligible nurses will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Participants will complete baseline assessments before intervention implementation. Outcome measures will be reassessed immediately after completion of the intervention and during follow-up assessments.
Primary outcomes include reduction in vicarious trauma and enhancement of vicarious post-traumatic growth. Secondary outcomes include resilience, coping strategies, psychological well-being, and occupational functioning. Findings may contribute to the development of evidence-based psychological support programs for nurses working in high-stress healthcare settings.
Interventions
- Behavioral Psychoeducational Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention
A structured psychoeducational and behavioral intervention designed to promote vicarious post-traumatic growth and reduce vicarious trauma among emergency nurses. The intervention incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, mindfulness practices, resilience-building exercises, psychoeducation regarding vicarious trauma, stress management strategies, reflective activities, and peer-support components. The program is delivered in scheduled sessions over the intervention period and
Primary outcome measures
- Change in Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth Score [Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), 3-month follow-up (Week 20), 6-month follow-up (Week 32)]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
- Change in Vicarious Trauma Score [Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), 3-month follow-up (Week 20), 6-month follow-up (Week 32)]
- Change in Resilience Score [Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), 3-month follow-up (Week 20), 6-month follow-up (Week 32)]
- Change in Coping Strategies [Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), 3-month follow-up (Week 20), 6-month follow-up (Week 32)]
- Change in Psychological Well-being [Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), 3-month follow-up (Week 20), 6-month follow-up (Week 32)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Registered nurses currently employed in emergency departments.
- Minimum six months of emergency department work experience.
- Able to read and understand English or Urdu.
- Willing to provide informed consent.
- Available to participate throughout intervention and follow-up assessments.
Exclusion criteria
- Current diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorder requiring intensive treatment.
- Current participation in trauma-focused psychotherapy.
- Cognitive impairment affecting study participation.
- Planned transfer from emergency unit during study period.
- Refusal to provide informed consent.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
Pakistan · 1 center
- Nishtar Hospital, Burn Unit (NMH), Multan Institute of Cardiology (MIC), Bakhtawar Amin Ho — Multan
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07677527 · VPTGI-RCT-2026