Preventing Violence against Healthcare Workers in Hospital Settings: A Systematic Review of Nonpharmacological Interventions

Abstract

Background: Up to 92% of health workers experience some form of patient-perpetrated violence. The highest risk environments include emergency departments, acute care settings, and mental health units. Given such elevated rates of violence, current interventions have questionable efficacy or implementation challenges.

Design: We conducted a systematic review conforming to PRISMA reporting requirements. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Studies reporting interventions to prevent patient-initiated violence against healthcare workers in hospitals were included, and findings were synthesised.

Results: Based on meeting eligibility criteria, twelve studies were included in the review. Most interventions reported an effect with eleven of the twelve studies describing changes in the incidence of violence postintervention. Most studies were evaluations of education and training programs (n = 7), followed by action plans (n = 2), and a reporting instrument, risk assessment tool, and legislation (n = 1).

Conclusions: Insights into effective strategies to prevent hospital patient and visitor-initiated violence are necessary to develop guidelines for better aggression/violence deterrence. Violence prevention requires strong, evidence-based, and clinically applicable interventions that promote the safety and satisfaction of all healthcare workers. Relevance to Clinical Practice. Formulating effective and appropriate strategies that aid in early recognition, prevention, and management of aggression/violence will benefit all health workers. Patient and staff satisfaction will rise; healthcare workers will regain a sense of preparedness, and higher levels of safety will be achieved. Without these effective interventions being established, the magnitude of adverse outcomes from patient-perpetrated violence will continue in healthcare.

Figure 1

PRISMA flowchart.