Occupational Violence and Aggression Experienced by Nursing and Caring Professionals

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Healthcare Management
• Criminology

Background:

• Occupational violence and aggression (OVA) is a significant issue in healthcare.
• Understanding the prevalence and sources of OVA is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the extent and origins of OVA experienced by nursing and caring professionals.
• To analyze how demographic, workplace, and individual safety factors predict OVA.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional online survey of 4,891 nursing and caring professionals in Victoria, Australia.
• Logistic regression analysis of survey data.

Main Results:

• 67% of respondents experienced OVA in the past year; 20% experienced it weekly/daily.
• Patients and relatives were the primary sources of OVA.
• Public hospitals and aged care facilities had higher OVA rates. Role overload and workplace safety prioritization were strong predictors.

Conclusions:

• OVA prevalence varies by demographics and workplace characteristics.
• Enhancing workplace safety is more effective in reducing OVA than focusing solely on individual factors.