Effectiveness of a theory-driven Brazilian jiu-jitsu-based medical self-defense training for nurses facing workplace...

Workplace violence negatively affects nurses' psychological well-being and job performance and the quality of patient care. Traditional workplace violence prevention training programs are not typically theory-driven and do not typically allow participants to apply practical skills. To address this gap, this study conducted a self-defense training intervention involving Brazilian jiu-jitsu training and elements of experiential learning theory. The primary outcome was self-efficacy in managing workplace violence. The secondary outcomes of interest were perceptions of and attitudes toward workplace violence management.

This multicenter, quasiexperimental study recruited 280 nurses from several health-care institutions. Participants were divided into an intervention group (n = 133), which completed a Brazilian jiu-jitsu-based self-defense training intervention, and a control group (n = 147), which received traditional classroom-based workplace violence prevention training. Outcomes were assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Perception of Aggression Scale, and Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale. Assessments were conducted at baseline and after the intervention. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the effects of the intervention.

At immediate post-intervention, the intervention group exhibited significantly greater improvements in self-efficacy (β = 3.02; 95 % CI 1.47-4.57) and workplace violence perceptions (β = 6.94; 95 % CI 4.90-8.98) than did the control group. The intervention did not lead to a statistically significant improvement in attitudes toward workplace violence management (β = 0.83; 95 % CI -0.23-1.89). Covariate analysis revealed that sex (higher in men), work location (higher at medical centers), and work unit (lower in psychiatry units) significantly influenced outcomes.

Theory-driven Brazilian jiu-jitsu-based self-defense training significantly enhance nurses' perceptions and self-efficacy in handling workplace violence, highlighting the value of experiential learning in nursing workplace violence prevention programs.

NCT06129929.