Li Lu1, Ka-In Lok2, Ling Zhang3, Ailing Hu4, Gabor S Ungvari5, Daniel T Bressington6, Teris Cheung6, Feng-Rong An7, Yu-Tao Xiang8. 1. Unit of Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, & Center for Cognition and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China. 2. Unit of Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, & Center for Cognition and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China; Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macau SAR, China. 3. The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital & the Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 4. Department of Nursing, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. 5. University of Notre Dame Australia & Graylands Hospital, Perth, Australia; Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 6. School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China. 7. The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital & the Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Electronic address: afrylm@sina.com. 8. Unit of Psychiatry, Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, & Center for Cognition and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China. Electronic address: xyutly@gmail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Workplace violence (WPV) is common in mental health services in China, but its multi-center prevalence measured using standardized rating scales has rarely been reported. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of verbal and physical violence against nurses working in psychiatric hospitals and examine its independent socio-demographic correlates in China. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 11 major psychiatric hospitals in China using a 9-item self-reported workplace violence scale. RESULTS: A total of 1906 psychiatric nurses were recruited to participate in this study. The one-year prevalence of verbal and/or physical workplace violence (WPV) was 84.2% (95% CI: 82.4-85.8). The prevalence rates of verbal abuse, threats and physical violence were 79.3% (95% CI: 77.4-81.1), 70.9% (95% CI: 68.8-73.0) and 57.9% (95% CI: 55.7-60.2), respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that working in department of psychiatry (OR = 3.42, P < 0.001), having moderate (OR = 2.05, P = 0.009), severe (OR = 2.04, P = 0.015) or extremely severe (OR = 3.21, P < 0.001) anxiety level of WPV and working in hospitals with a WPV reporting system (OR = 1.88, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with WPV. CONCLUSION: WPV against nurses is a serious occupational and public health concern in Chinese psychiatric hospitals. Appropriate preventive measures should be undertaken to reduce the risk of WPV in healthcare settings.
OBJECTIVE: Workplace violence (WPV) is common in mental health services in China, but its multi-center prevalence measured using standardized rating scales has rarely been reported. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of verbal and physical violence against nurses working in psychiatric hospitals and examine its independent socio-demographic correlates in China. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 11 major psychiatric hospitals in China using a 9-item self-reported workplace violence scale. RESULTS: A total of 1906 psychiatric nurses were recruited to participate in this study. The one-year prevalence of verbal and/or physical workplace violence (WPV) was 84.2% (95% CI: 82.4-85.8). The prevalence rates of verbal abuse, threats and physical violence were 79.3% (95% CI: 77.4-81.1), 70.9% (95% CI: 68.8-73.0) and 57.9% (95% CI: 55.7-60.2), respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that working in department of psychiatry (OR = 3.42, P < 0.001), having moderate (OR = 2.05, P = 0.009), severe (OR = 2.04, P = 0.015) or extremely severe (OR = 3.21, P < 0.001) anxiety level of WPV and working in hospitals with a WPV reporting system (OR = 1.88, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with WPV. CONCLUSION: WPV against nurses is a serious occupational and public health concern in Chinese psychiatric hospitals. Appropriate preventive measures should be undertaken to reduce the risk of WPV in healthcare settings.
Authors: María Del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes; María Del Mar Molero Jurado; África Martos Martínez; María Del Mar Simón Márquez; Nieves Fátima Oropesa Ruiz; José Jesús Gázquez Linares Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-03-08 Impact factor: 2.692