Assessing Second Victim Experiences among Healthcare Students: Validation of the SVEST-S and Implications for Clinical Education

Aim To validate the student-adapted Second Victim Experience and Support Tool (SVEST-S) and to explore the prevalence and characteristics of second victim experiences among healthcare students following PSIs during clinical placements. Background: Healthcare students are increasingly exposed to patient safety incidents (PSIs) that can lead to significant psychological distress, commonly referred to as the Second Victim Phenomenon (SVP). However, few studies have examined this experience during undergraduate clinical education. Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among healthcare students completing clinical placements in 54 medical centres across Eastern Spain. Methods: Data were collected through online and in-person surveys, including demographic variables and the SVEST-S instrument. Construct validity and reliability were assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using polychoric correlation. Results: A total of 299 students participated (113 nursing, 113 medical, 32 physiotherapy and 41 podiatry). Exploratory factor analysis supported a 5-factor, 26-item model, which showed an adequate fit (CFI = 0.956, NNFI = 0.931, GFI = 0.97) and strong reliability (α = 0.84). The mean total SVEST-S score was 2.97 (SD 1.15), indicating moderate distress. Approximately one in three students (34.5%) identified as second victims during their clinical placements. Conclusions: The SVEST-S demonstrated strong construct validity and reliability, confirming its suitability for assessing second victim experiences among healthcare students. This validated tool provides educators with an evidence-based framework to identify student distress, enhance emotional support and foster psychologically safe learning environments within clinical education.