Interventions to Prevent Sexual Harassment Against Nurses-StopSH: Protocol for an Intervention Development Study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Nursing safety
• Intervention development

Background:

• Patient sexual harassment of nurses is a global issue with high prevalence and significant negative impacts.
• Existing preventative measures are insufficient, necessitating the development of evidence-based strategies.
• Multidimensional interventions are crucial to address the complexity of patient-to-nurse sexual harassment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an evidence-based, complex intervention package to prevent patient sexual harassment of nurses.
• To minimize the negative consequences of patient sexual harassment within the acute care sector.
• The StopSH project focuses on the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

Main Methods:

• A multimethod intervention development study involving participative design and testing in Swiss hospitals.
• Phase 1: Systematic scoping review of existing interventions.
• Phase 2: Cross-sectional web-based survey for problem and needs analysis.
• Phase 3: Participatory co-development of the intervention package.
• Phase 4: Mixed methods feasibility study to assess acceptability, practicality, and preliminary effects.

Main Results:

• The StopSH project, launched in February 2024, is a 5-year initiative currently in phase 2 (data collection ongoing).
• The project is developing and testing a complex intervention package aimed at preventing patient sexual harassment of nurses.
• The intervention is predicted to decrease the prevalence and adverse effects of such harassment.

Conclusions:

• The project's findings will offer crucial guidance for nurses and employers, contributing to the long-term reduction of patient sexual harassment.
• This work establishes a foundation for developing and adapting interventions in diverse nursing settings and other healthcare professions.