An interventional study of Psychoeducational Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention in Vicarious Trauma, Psychological Distress and Post-Traumatic Growth, Psychological, sponsored by Fatima Jinnah Women University. Recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-07.
Sponsored by Fatima Jinnah Women University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
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.
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.
60 studies on the registry are indexed under Compassion Fatigue; 21 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is close to the median of 64 across 45 interventional studies indexed under Compassion Fatigue.
Browse Compassion Fatigue studies →Fatima Jinnah Women University is the lead sponsor of 23 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants receive a structured psychoeducational intervention consisting of trauma education, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness exercises, resilience-building activities, stress management training, emotional regulation skills, and peer support sessions.
Behavioral: Psychoeducational Vicarious Post-Traumatic Growth Intervention
Participants continue receiving routine institutional support and standard professional resources available within the hospital setting.
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 aims to enhance coping skills, psychological well-being, professional functioning, and post-traumatic growth.
Change in Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth Score
This outcome measures change in vicarious posttraumatic growth among emergency unit nurses exposed to the intervention. Vicarious posttraumatic growth will be assessed using the Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (VPTGI; Deaton, 2020), a self-report questionnaire. The total score will be calculated by summing item responses. Higher scores indicate greater vicarious posttraumatic growth (better psychological outcome).
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), 3-month follow-up (Week 20), 6-month follow-up (Week 32)
Change in Vicarious Trauma Score
This outcome measures vicarious trauma symptoms among emergency nurses. The Vicarious Trauma Scale (VTS; Vrklevski \& Franklin, 2008) will be used. The total score is obtained by summing item responses. Higher scores indicate greater vicarious trauma (worse psychological outcome).
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
Resilience will be assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), which measures the ability to recover from stress. Scores are calculated as the mean of all items. Higher scores indicate greater resilience (better outcome).
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
Coping strategies will be assessed using the CSI-SF, measuring both adaptive and maladaptive coping styles. Scores will be reported as subscale and total scores. Higher adaptive coping scores indicate better coping outcomes.
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
Psychological well-being will be assessed using the 18-item Psychological Well-being Scale. Total scores will be computed by summing item responses. Higher scores indicate better psychological well-being.
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Post-intervention (Week 8), 3-month follow-up (Week 20), 6-month follow-up (Week 32)
Personality Traits
Personality traits (Big Five dimensions) will be assessed using the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). Scores will be calculated for each trait dimension. This measure will be used as a baseline covariate and moderator, not as an intervention outcome.
Time frame: Baseline only (Week 0)
Intervention Adherence
Measured as the percentage of attended intervention sessions (CBT, mindfulness, psychoeducation, peer support). Reported as percentage (%) of completed sessions per participant.
Time frame: Throughout intervention period (Weeks 1-8)
Intervention Fidelity
Assessed using a structured fidelity checklist completed by supervisors to ensure protocol adherence. Reported as percentage of protocol components delivered correctly.
Time frame: During intervention delivery (Weeks 1-8)
Attrition Rate
Number and percentage of participants who drop out of the study at each assessment point.
Time frame: Post-intervention (Week 8), 3-month follow-up (Week 20), 6-month follow-up (Week 32)
Plan to share: No
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Fatima Jinnah Women University