"It Will Stay With Me Forever": The Experiences of Physicians Treating Victims of Public Mass Shootings

• Published in: Traumatology (Tallahassee, Fla.) Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 432 - 438
• Main Authors: Cowan, Rebecca G., Cole, Rebekah, Lee, Clark J., Britt, L. D., Goolsby, Craig
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Educational Publishing Foundation 01-09-2024
• Subjects: Disasters; Emergency Medicine; Emotions; Female; Gun Violence; Human; Male; Mass Murder; Mental Health; Physicians; Surgeons; mass shootings; emergency physicians; surgeons; phases of disaster; physician mental health
• ISSN: 1085-9373; 1085-9373
• DOI: 10.1037/trm0000453

Mass shooting incidents (MSIs) significantly impact survivors, families, communities, and the physicians who treat the victims. The impact of mass shootings on first responders has been explored in previous studies; however, little is known about the effect of these incidents on treating physicians. This study's objective was to explore emergency physicians and surgeons' experiences during each of the psychological phases of disaster after treating victims of mass shootings. We interviewed nine participants who self-identified as emergency physicians or surgeons. Each participant had treated victims of a public mass shooting in the United States. Seven themes emerged from the data regarding physician experiences throughout the phases of disaster after treating victims of mass shootings. These themes included preparedness, a surge of patients, compartmentalization of emotions and release, mental health support, community cohesion, long-term impact, and new perspective and purpose. There is an unrecognized emotional toll on physicians when treating the casualties from MSIs. Our findings support the importance of offering mental health support to physicians immediately and longitudinally after treating victims of mass shootings. Additionally, following these incidents, physicians should be provided space and time to decompress and process their emotions both individually and collectively within their communities.