TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluation of a critical incident management system on mental health in lifeguard organisations

T2 - A retrospective study

AU - Breindahl, Niklas

AU - Strange, Kirstine Friderichsen

AU - Østergaard, Doris

AU - Collatz Christensen, Helle

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Background Lifeguards may face many life-threatening situations during their careers and may be at increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Minimal evidence concerning critical incident management systems in lifeguard organisations exists. Objectives To develop, implement and evaluate an operational system for critical incident management in lifeguard organisations. Methods This retrospective study included data on occupational injury reports from 2013 to 2022 in TrygFonden Surf Lifesaving Denmark. All active lifeguards were invited to evaluate the system and the individual steps using an online questionnaire with three questions rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Primary outcome was a change in the frequency of psychological injury reports after system implementation in 2020. The secondary outcome was the lifeguards' satisfaction with the system. Results After implementation, the average annual number of psychological injury reports increased 6.5-fold from 2 (2013-2019) to 13 (2020-2022), without changes to the number of critical incidents attended by the lifeguards. Sixty-six (33.8%) active lifeguards answered the questionnaire and agreed that follow-up after critical incidents was very important (mean score 4.7/5). Satisfaction with steps 1-2 and 3 of critical incident management among involved lifeguards was high (mean score 4.4/5 and 4.6/5, respectively). The system included an operational workflow diagram and incident report template presented in this study. Conclusions The operational system for critical incident management may improve early recognition of symptoms for the prevention of PTSD. It may be used as a screening and decision tool for referral to a mental health professional.

AB - Background Lifeguards may face many life-threatening situations during their careers and may be at increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Minimal evidence concerning critical incident management systems in lifeguard organisations exists. Objectives To develop, implement and evaluate an operational system for critical incident management in lifeguard organisations. Methods This retrospective study included data on occupational injury reports from 2013 to 2022 in TrygFonden Surf Lifesaving Denmark. All active lifeguards were invited to evaluate the system and the individual steps using an online questionnaire with three questions rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Primary outcome was a change in the frequency of psychological injury reports after system implementation in 2020. The secondary outcome was the lifeguards' satisfaction with the system. Results After implementation, the average annual number of psychological injury reports increased 6.5-fold from 2 (2013-2019) to 13 (2020-2022), without changes to the number of critical incidents attended by the lifeguards. Sixty-six (33.8%) active lifeguards answered the questionnaire and agreed that follow-up after critical incidents was very important (mean score 4.7/5). Satisfaction with steps 1-2 and 3 of critical incident management among involved lifeguards was high (mean score 4.4/5 and 4.6/5, respectively). The system included an operational workflow diagram and incident report template presented in this study. Conclusions The operational system for critical incident management may improve early recognition of symptoms for the prevention of PTSD. It may be used as a screening and decision tool for referral to a mental health professional.

KW - performance

KW - psychology

KW - retrospective

KW - sports medicine

KW - water sports

U2 - 10.1136/bmjsem-2022-001499

DO - 10.1136/bmjsem-2022-001499

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36704713

AN - SCOPUS:85146893900

VL - 9

JO - BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine

JF - BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine

SN - 2055-7647

IS - 1

M1 - e001499

ER -