Violence chain surrounding patient-to-staff violence in Japanese hospitals

The aim of this study was to determine if patient-to-staff violence is associated with staff-to-staff violence and patient-to-patient violence among nurses and patient service clerks. A survey was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire for attendees of a lecture on antiviolence in health care institutions. Patient-to-staff verbal violence was associated with staff-to-staff verbal violence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.66). Patient-to-staff physical violence was associated with staff-to-staff physical violence (OR = 7.80; 95% CI: 1.86-13.5) and patient-to-patient verbal violence (OR = 2.69; 95% CI: 1.18-5.42). Patient-to-staff sexual harassment was associated with staff-to-staff sexual harassment (OR = 6.55; 95% CI: 3.59-8.91) and patient-to-patient verbal violence (OR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.44-5.17). Staff who had experienced patient-to-staff violence were likely to have experienced violence by other staff and to have witnessed or reported violence among patients.