ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF VICARIOUS TRAUMA AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT KCRH, KIRINYAGA COUNTY, IN KENYA.

Abstract

Vicarious trauma is referred to the emotional and psychological distress experienced by health care workers, who directly absorb the traumatic experiences of patients, thus disrupting their sense of emotional safety, trust, self-esteem, and intimacy. The broad objective of this study was to measure the level of vicarious trauma among healthcare workers at Kerugoya County Referral Hospital (KCRH), Kirinyaga County. The study sampled 149 healthcare workers using multistage sampling procedure. Questionnaires were used to collect data; Socio-Demographic Questionnaire, Vicarious Trauma Scale (VTS). The data was analyzed using statistical software SPSS version 27 and presented in summary tables, detailing frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The study findings show that healthcare workers at KCHR showed a moderate level of Vicarious Trauma levels with a score of 33.3. The data hold significant importance for evidence-based decision-making, particularly in designing tailored healthcare training and support networks and provides vital insights for hospital administrators to implement effective interventions. Policymakers can use this data to formulate policies addressing trauma management and worker well-being, thus directly impacting management of mental health issues which is a growing public health concern.