Professional and personal experiences of workplace violence among Italian mental health nurses: A qualitative study
BackgroundViolence against healthcare workers in psychiatric settings is a concern in the literature. Violence effects for healthcare professionals and organizations include an absence from work due to injury or illness, a decreased job satisfaction, and a lower quality of work. The aim of this stud...
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AIMS Press
2024-12-01
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| Series: | AIMS Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/publichealth.2024059 |
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| author | Ilenia Piras Igor Portoghese Massimo Tusconi Federica Minafra Mariangela Lecca Giampaolo Piras Paolo Contu Maura Galletta |
| author_facet | Ilenia Piras Igor Portoghese Massimo Tusconi Federica Minafra Mariangela Lecca Giampaolo Piras Paolo Contu Maura Galletta |
| author_sort | Ilenia Piras |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundViolence against healthcare workers in psychiatric settings is a concern in the literature. Violence effects for healthcare professionals and organizations include an absence from work due to injury or illness, a decreased job satisfaction, and a lower quality of work. The aim of this study is to identify the consequences of violence on the health, work habits, and performance of nurses working with psychiatric patients.MethodsThe study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 18 nurses from different hospitals and territorial psychiatric settings in Southern Italy. The interviews were conducted from July to December 2020 by telephone and were recorded with the consent of the participants. The collected data were transcribed and analyzed.ResultsThe narratives revealed five main themes: (1) Feelings about the violence experienced; (2) the effects of violent incidents on nurses; (3) features of the mental health setting related to the phenomenon of the assault; (4) the care and organizational aspects to prevent the assault; and (5) the care in psychiatric settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aggressions resulted in a change in the nurses' work habits and performances; they were more careful after the aggression and modified their approach to the patient. Additionally, the nurses discussed developing skills and strategies to protect themselves and avoid aggression.ConclusionsAggression has a negative impact on the health and work performance of nurses. Adopting personal and nursing strategies in place to prevent aggression allows them to improve the patient care and to protect themselves from such incidents. The creation of a safer work environment by healthcare organizations in which professionals work can improve their health, job performance, and the effectiveness of psychiatric nursing care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2e5cef4464441ec9b1b0b3ffbd9410e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2327-8994 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | AIMS Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIMS Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e2e5cef4464441ec9b1b0b3ffbd9410e2025-01-24T01:32:41ZengAIMS PressAIMS Public Health2327-89942024-12-011141137115610.3934/publichealth.2024059Professional and personal experiences of workplace violence among Italian mental health nurses: A qualitative studyIlenia Piras0Igor Portoghese1Massimo Tusconi2Federica Minafra3Mariangela Lecca4Giampaolo Piras5Paolo Contu6Maura Galletta7Clinical Trials Sector, General Affairs, ‘A. Cao’ Microcythemic Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalyNursing Home Gersia, Selargius, ItalySurgical Department, SS. Trinità Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalySardinia Regional Health Emergency Service, Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, ItalyDepartment of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, ItalyBackgroundViolence against healthcare workers in psychiatric settings is a concern in the literature. Violence effects for healthcare professionals and organizations include an absence from work due to injury or illness, a decreased job satisfaction, and a lower quality of work. The aim of this study is to identify the consequences of violence on the health, work habits, and performance of nurses working with psychiatric patients.MethodsThe study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 18 nurses from different hospitals and territorial psychiatric settings in Southern Italy. The interviews were conducted from July to December 2020 by telephone and were recorded with the consent of the participants. The collected data were transcribed and analyzed.ResultsThe narratives revealed five main themes: (1) Feelings about the violence experienced; (2) the effects of violent incidents on nurses; (3) features of the mental health setting related to the phenomenon of the assault; (4) the care and organizational aspects to prevent the assault; and (5) the care in psychiatric settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aggressions resulted in a change in the nurses' work habits and performances; they were more careful after the aggression and modified their approach to the patient. Additionally, the nurses discussed developing skills and strategies to protect themselves and avoid aggression.ConclusionsAggression has a negative impact on the health and work performance of nurses. Adopting personal and nursing strategies in place to prevent aggression allows them to improve the patient care and to protect themselves from such incidents. The creation of a safer work environment by healthcare organizations in which professionals work can improve their health, job performance, and the effectiveness of psychiatric nursing care.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/publichealth.2024059workplace violencenursesmental health carequalitative studyhealth consequences for workers |
| spellingShingle | Ilenia Piras Igor Portoghese Massimo Tusconi Federica Minafra Mariangela Lecca Giampaolo Piras Paolo Contu Maura Galletta Professional and personal experiences of workplace violence among Italian mental health nurses: A qualitative study AIMS Public Health workplace violence nurses mental health care qualitative study health consequences for workers |
| title | Professional and personal experiences of workplace violence among Italian mental health nurses: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Professional and personal experiences of workplace violence among Italian mental health nurses: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Professional and personal experiences of workplace violence among Italian mental health nurses: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Professional and personal experiences of workplace violence among Italian mental health nurses: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Professional and personal experiences of workplace violence among Italian mental health nurses: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | professional and personal experiences of workplace violence among italian mental health nurses a qualitative study |
| topic | workplace violence nurses mental health care qualitative study health consequences for workers |
| url | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/publichealth.2024059 |
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