Journal article
Preventing Violence against Healthcare Workers in Hospital Settings: A Systematic Review of Nonpharmacological Interventions
Journal of Nursing Management, Vol.2023, pp.1-14
2023
PMCID: PMC11919004
PMID: 40225644
Abstract
Aims and Objectives. To evaluate nonpharmacological interventions for preventing patient and visitor-perpetrated violence against healthcare workers within hospital settings. Background. Up to 92% of health workers experience some form of patient-perpetrated violence. The highest risk environments include emergency departments, acute care settings, and mental health units. Given such elevated rates of violence, current interventions have questionable efficacy or implementation challenges. Design. We conducted a systematic review conforming to PRISMA reporting requirements. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Studies reporting interventions to prevent patient-initiated violence against healthcare workers in hospitals were included, and findings were synthesised. Results. Based on meeting eligibility criteria, twelve studies were included in the review. Most interventions reported an effect with eleven of the twelve studies describing changes in the incidence of violence postintervention. Most studies were evaluations of education and training programs (n = 7), followed by action plans (n = 2), and a reporting instrument, risk assessment tool, and legislation (n = 1). Conclusions. Insights into effective strategies to prevent hospital patient and visitor-initiated violence are necessary to develop guidelines for better aggression/violence deterrence. Violence prevention requires strong, evidence-based, and clinically applicable interventions that promote the safety and satisfaction of all healthcare workers. Relevance to Clinical Practice. Formulating effective and appropriate strategies that aid in early recognition, prevention, and management of aggression/violence will benefit all health workers. Patient and staff satisfaction will rise; healthcare workers will regain a sense of preparedness, and higher levels of safety will be achieved. Without these effective interventions being established, the magnitude of adverse outcomes from patient-perpetrated violence will continue in healthcare.
Details
- Title
- Preventing Violence against Healthcare Workers in Hospital Settings: A Systematic Review of Nonpharmacological Interventions
- Authors
- Natasha Mundey (Author) - University of Southern QueenslandVictoria R Terry (Author) - University of Southern QueenslandJeff Gow (Author) - University of Southern QueenslandJed Duff (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyNicholas Ralph (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health
- Publication details
- Journal of Nursing Management, Vol.2023, pp.1-14
- Publisher
- Hindawi Limited
- Date published
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.1155/2023/3239640
- ISSN
- 1365-2834
- PMID
- 40225644; PMC11919004
- Copyright note
- © 2023 Natasha Mundey et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Data Availability
- All data including protocols are included within the article.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99982894002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
3 File views/ downloads
34 Record Views