Workplace violence against healthcare workers

Healthcare workers face a pervasive threat in their workplace: occupational violence. This encompasses a range of aggressive behaviours from patients, visitors, and others, posing risks to both individual well-being and organisational effectiveness. Organisations such as the International Council of Nurses, International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Hospital Federation and the World Medical Association and The World Health Organization are working on responses to help prevent and manage violence against healthcare workers.

Editorial in the April 2024 issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis focuses on managing workplace violence against healthcare workers, and argues that a multidisciplinary approach is required.

“The devastating impact of violent workplace attacks on health care workers across all disciplines is too serious to ignore. Global instability, war, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other international concerns have had horrific consequences on health care workers.”

The editorial stresses that interventions to prevent and manage violence towards healthcare workers should be informed by robust evidence. Further, while legislation is one suggested strategy, healthcare policies, procedures, and processes for preventing and managing workplace violence are essential at local levels also: “Reviewing the available evidence clearly indicates that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem.”

The editorial accompanies a new systematic review, Educational programs and interventions for health care staff to prevent and manage aggressive behaviors in acute hospitals.

The systematic review focuses on education programs that aim to prepare healthcare workers to recognise and respond appropriately to potentially violent situations. It provides insights into how educators could strengthen the design of educational interventions related to preventing and managing aggressive behaviours.

The authors of the editorial note that the systematic review highlighted that under-reporting of violent incidents remains a significant issue, impacting the ability to develop effective preventive strategies, and that cultivating a safety culture and simplifying reporting mechanisms are essential to addressing under-reporting.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but enhancing education programs through a combination of approaches is crucial. By empowering healthcare workers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to address aggressive behaviours, we can create safer and more supportive healthcare environments for all.

The editorial, Managing violence against health care works: education alone is not enough, is available in the April 2024 issue of JBI Evidence.

The editorial is summarised in an ‘Editorial in Motion’, a short video: