Trajectories of the current situation and characteristics of workplace violence among nurses: a nine-year follow-up study

Abstract Background Workplace violence (WPV) among nurses has become an increasingly serious public health issue worldwide. Investigating the status quo and characteristics of WPV among nurses in different time periods can help hospital managers understand the current status of WPV and its trends ov...

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Main Authors: Jianzheng Cai, Ziyu Qin, Haifang Wang, Xiaoqing Zhao, Weixia Yu, Sisi Wu, Ying Zhang, Yalan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-11-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07245-y
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author Jianzheng Cai
Ziyu Qin
Haifang Wang
Xiaoqing Zhao
Weixia Yu
Sisi Wu
Ying Zhang
Yalan Wang
author_facet Jianzheng Cai
Ziyu Qin
Haifang Wang
Xiaoqing Zhao
Weixia Yu
Sisi Wu
Ying Zhang
Yalan Wang
author_sort Jianzheng Cai
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Workplace violence (WPV) among nurses has become an increasingly serious public health issue worldwide. Investigating the status quo and characteristics of WPV among nurses in different time periods can help hospital managers understand the current status of WPV and its trends over time. This study aimed to understand the current situation of WPV among nurses in Suzhou general hospitals from 2010 to 2019 and analyze changes over time. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate 942, 2,110 and 2,566 nurses in 6 fixed polyclinic hospitals in Suzhou in 2010, 2015 and 2019, respectively. This study used the revised version of the hospital WPV questionnaire. The count data are described as frequencies and percentages, and the measurement data are represented as means and standard deviations. The general data of nurses during different time periods, the incidence of WPV, nurses’ cognition and attitudes toward WPV and the attitudes and measures of hospitals regarding WPV were analyzed by the chi-square test. Results The incidence of WPV among nurses in Suzhou general hospitals in 2015 (69.0 %) and in 2019 (68.4 %) was higher than the incidence of 62.4 % in 2010 (P<0.05), and there were significant differences among periods in the specific types of violence (P˂0.05). Nurses who participated in the surveys in 2015 and 2019 scored higher on “having heard of WPV before”, “thinking WPV coping management organizations are needed” and “supporting a zero-tolerance policy” than those who participated in 2010 (P<0.05). The attitudes and responses of hospitals with regard to WPV among nurses have greatly improved, as evidenced by the results for the items “offering training”, “encouraging reporting of WPV to supervisors”, “equipped with a WPV managing department”, “handling WPV efficiently” and “hospital’s attitudes” (P<0.005). Conclusions Despite an increase in nurses’ awareness and attitudes regarding WPV and significant improvements in hospitals’ attitudes and responses to WPV, the incidence of WPV remains high. Hospitals should continue to explore scientific training modes that are in accordance with the needs of nurses to reduce the incidence of WPV.
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spelling doaj.art-fccd4e2b629248a896929ace3ec168792022-12-21T19:07:38ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632021-11-012111910.1186/s12913-021-07245-yTrajectories of the current situation and characteristics of workplace violence among nurses: a nine-year follow-up studyJianzheng Cai0Ziyu Qin1Haifang Wang2Xiaoqing Zhao3Weixia Yu4Sisi Wu5Ying Zhang6Yalan Wang7Department of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityDepartment of Nursing, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityAbstract Background Workplace violence (WPV) among nurses has become an increasingly serious public health issue worldwide. Investigating the status quo and characteristics of WPV among nurses in different time periods can help hospital managers understand the current status of WPV and its trends over time. This study aimed to understand the current situation of WPV among nurses in Suzhou general hospitals from 2010 to 2019 and analyze changes over time. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate 942, 2,110 and 2,566 nurses in 6 fixed polyclinic hospitals in Suzhou in 2010, 2015 and 2019, respectively. This study used the revised version of the hospital WPV questionnaire. The count data are described as frequencies and percentages, and the measurement data are represented as means and standard deviations. The general data of nurses during different time periods, the incidence of WPV, nurses’ cognition and attitudes toward WPV and the attitudes and measures of hospitals regarding WPV were analyzed by the chi-square test. Results The incidence of WPV among nurses in Suzhou general hospitals in 2015 (69.0 %) and in 2019 (68.4 %) was higher than the incidence of 62.4 % in 2010 (P<0.05), and there were significant differences among periods in the specific types of violence (P˂0.05). Nurses who participated in the surveys in 2015 and 2019 scored higher on “having heard of WPV before”, “thinking WPV coping management organizations are needed” and “supporting a zero-tolerance policy” than those who participated in 2010 (P<0.05). The attitudes and responses of hospitals with regard to WPV among nurses have greatly improved, as evidenced by the results for the items “offering training”, “encouraging reporting of WPV to supervisors”, “equipped with a WPV managing department”, “handling WPV efficiently” and “hospital’s attitudes” (P<0.005). Conclusions Despite an increase in nurses’ awareness and attitudes regarding WPV and significant improvements in hospitals’ attitudes and responses to WPV, the incidence of WPV remains high. Hospitals should continue to explore scientific training modes that are in accordance with the needs of nurses to reduce the incidence of WPV.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07245-yNurseWorkplace violenceGeneral hospitalComparison
spellingShingle Jianzheng Cai
Ziyu Qin
Haifang Wang
Xiaoqing Zhao
Weixia Yu
Sisi Wu
Ying Zhang
Yalan Wang
Trajectories of the current situation and characteristics of workplace violence among nurses: a nine-year follow-up study
BMC Health Services Research
Nurse
Workplace violence
General hospital
Comparison
title Trajectories of the current situation and characteristics of workplace violence among nurses: a nine-year follow-up study
title_full Trajectories of the current situation and characteristics of workplace violence among nurses: a nine-year follow-up study
title_fullStr Trajectories of the current situation and characteristics of workplace violence among nurses: a nine-year follow-up study
title_full_unstemmed Trajectories of the current situation and characteristics of workplace violence among nurses: a nine-year follow-up study
title_short Trajectories of the current situation and characteristics of workplace violence among nurses: a nine-year follow-up study
title_sort trajectories of the current situation and characteristics of workplace violence among nurses a nine year follow up study
topic Nurse
Workplace violence
General hospital
Comparison
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07245-y
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