Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Emergency Medicine
Published in: BMC Emergency Medicine 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research article

Barriers, enablers, and opportunities for organisational follow-up of workplace violence from the perspective of emergency department nurses: a qualitative study

Authors: Brodie Thomas, Anthony McGillion, Kristina Edvardsson, Peter O’Meara, Julia Van Vuuren, Evelien Spelten

Published in: BMC Emergency Medicine | Issue 1/2021

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

A lack of follow-up of violence incidents and assaulted staff has been associated with high levels of workplace violence. There is a paucity of literature on the barriers, enablers and opportunities for organisational follow-up of workplace violence. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers, enablers and opportunities for organisational follow-up of workplace violence from the perspective of Emergency Department nurses.

Methods

This qualitative study comprised two focus groups with Emergency Department nurses. Data were analysed thematically. COREQ guidelines were followed for the design and reporting of the study.

Results

The barriers to follow-up in this study relate to the type of perpetrator, the initial incident response, the incident reporting process and organisational action. The enablers included hospital initiatives to manage violence and support staff wellbeing. The opportunities included strategies to improve follow-up and ideas for new follow-up strategies.

Conclusions

Organisational follow-up is important for the emotional and professional wellbeing of staff who experience workplace violence. Opportunities for follow-up include exploring different approaches to patients with mental health issues and focussing on reoffenders by providing appropriate support and consequences. Managers should advocate for efficient and standardised reporting processes and ensure assaulted staff have a clear perception of follow-up and are included in the follow-up process. Including the perpetrators in the follow-up process may reduce workplace violence.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Spelten E, Thomas B, O'Meara PF, Maguire BJ, FitzGerald D, Begg SJ. Organisational interventions for preventing and minimising aggression directed towards healthcare workers by patients and patient advocates. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;4:1–72.
2.
Longo D, Phillips J. Workplace violence against Health Care Workers in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(17):1661–9.CrossRef
3.
Hassard J, Teoh KRH, Cox T. Estimating the economic burden posed by work-related violence to society: a systematic review of cost-of-illness studies. Saf Sci. 2019;116:208–21.CrossRef
4.
Maguire BJ, O'Meara P, O'Neill BJ, Brightwell R. Violence against emergency medical services personnel: A systematic review of the literature. Am J Ind Med. 2017;61(2):167–80.
5.
Pourshaikhian M, Abolghasem Gorji H, Aryankhesal A, Khorasani-Zavareh D, Barati A. A Systematic Literature Review: Workplace Violence Against Emergency Medical Services Personnel. Arch Trauma Res. 2016;5(1):1–14.
6.
Byrne G, Heyman R. Patient anxiety in the accident and emergency department. J Clin Nurs. 1997;6(4):289–95.CrossRef
7.
Australian Institute of Health Welfare. Emergency department care 2016–17: Australian hospital statistics. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health Welfare; 2017.
8.
Morley C, Unwin M, Peterson GM, Stankovich J, Kinsman L. Emergency department crowding: a systematic review of causes, consequences and solutions. PLoS One. 2018;13(8):e0203316.CrossRef
9.
Friis K, Pihl-Thingvad J, Larsen FB, Christiansen J, Lasgaard M. Long-term adverse health outcomes of physical workplace violence: a 7-year population-based follow-up study. Eur J Work Organ Psychol. 2019;28(1):101–9.CrossRef
10.
Schat ACH, Kelloway EK. Reducing the adverse consequences of workplace aggression and violence: the buffering effects of organizational support. J Occup Health Psychol. 2003;8(2):110–22.CrossRef
11.
Wiskow C. Guidelines on workplace violence in the Health sector comparison of major known national guidelines and strategies: United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, USA (OSHA and California). Geneva: ILO/ICN/WHO/PSI Joint Programme on Workplace Violence in the Health Sector; 2003.
12.
Thomas BJ, O'Meara P, Edvardsson K, Spelten E. Barriers and opportunities for workplace violence interventions in Australian paramedicine: a qualitative study. Austr J Paramed. 2020;17.
13.
Bromley G, Painter S. Ensuring workplace safety: evidence supporting interventions for nurse administrators. J Nurs Adm. 2019;49(11):525–30.PubMed
14.
Deans C. Nurses and occupational violence: the role of organisational support in moderating professional competence. Aust J Adv Nurs. 2005;22(2):14–8.
15.
Liu W, Zhao S, Shi L, Zhang Z, Liu X, Li L, et al. Workplace violence, job satisfaction, burnout, perceived organisational support and their effects on turnover intention among Chinese nurses in tertiary hospitals: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2018;8(6):e019525.CrossRef
16.
Morken T, Johansen IH, Alsaker K. Dealing with workplace violence in emergency primary health care: a focus group study. BMC Fam Pract. 2015;16:51.CrossRef
17.
Morphet J, Griffiths D, Innes K. The trouble with reporting and utilization of workplace violence data in health care. J Nurs Manag. 2019;27(3):592–8.CrossRef
18.
Campbell CL, Burg MA, Gammonley D. Measures for incident reporting of patient violence and aggression towards healthcare providers: a systematic review. Aggress Violent Behav. 2015;25:314–22.CrossRef
19.
Andersen LP, Hogh A, Biering K, Gadegaard CA. Work-related threats and violence in human service sectors: the importance of the psycho-social work environment examined in a multilevel prospective study. Work. 2018;59:141–54.CrossRef
20.
Renker P, Scribner S, Huff P. Staff perspectives of violence in the emergency department: appeals for consequences, collaboration, and consistency. Work. 2015;51(1):5–18.CrossRef
21.
Choi S-H, Lee H. Workplace violence against nurses in Korea and its impact on professional quality of life and turnover intention. J Nurs Manag. 2017;25(7):508–18.CrossRef
22.
Creswell J. Qualitative inquiry & research design: choosing among five approaches. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications; 2013.
23.
Liamputtong P, Ezzy D. Qualitative research methods. 2nd ed. Melbourne: Oxford University Press; 2005.
24.
25.
Braitberg G, Gerdtz M, Harding S, Pincus S, Thompson M, Knott J. Behavioural assessment unit improves outcomes for patients with complex psychosocial needs. Emerg Med Australas. 2018;30:353–8.CrossRef
26.
27.
28.
Melbourne Health. Melbourne Health quality of care report 2011. Melbourne: Melbourne Health; 2011.
29.
QRS International Pty Ltd. NVivo qualitative data analysis software. 12th ed; 2018.
30.
Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3:77–101.CrossRef
31.
Corbin J, Strauss M. Grounded theory research: procedures, canons, and evaluative criteria. Qual Sociol. 1990;13(1):3–21.CrossRef
32.
Grol R, Wensing M. What drives change? Barriers to and incentives for achieving evidence-based practice. Med J Aust. 2004;180(6 Suppl):S57–60.PubMed
33.
Edvardsson K, Garvare R, Ivarsson A, Eurenius E, Mogren I, Nyström ME. Sustainable practice change: Professionals' experiences with a multisectoral child health promotion programme in Sweden. BMC Health Serv Res. 2011;11(1):61.CrossRef
34.
Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care. 2007;19(6):349–57.CrossRef
35.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Nursing and midwifery workforce 2015. Canberra: AIHW; 2016.
36.
Hogarth KM, Beattie J, Morphet J. Nurses' attitudes towards the reporting of violence in the emergency department. Austr Emerg Nurs J. 2016;19(2):75–81.CrossRef
37.
Clarke DE, Dusome D, Hughes L. Emergency department from the mental health client’s perspective. Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2007;16(2):126–31.CrossRef
38.
Creed JO, Cyr JM, Owino H, Box SE, Ives-Rublee M, Sheitman BB, et al. Acute crisis Care for Patients with mental Health crises: initial assessment of an innovative Prehospital alternative destination program in North Carolina. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018;22(5):555–64.CrossRef
39.
Zun LS. Pitfalls in the Care of the Psychiatric Patient in the emergency department. J Emerg Med. 2012;43(5):829–35.CrossRef
40.
McKenna B, Furness T, Brown S, Tacey M, Hiam A, Wise M. Police and clinician diversion of people in mental health crisis from the emergency department: a trend analysis and cross comparison study. BMC Emerg Med. 2015;15(1):14.CrossRef
41.
McKay C, Nugent K, Johnsen M, Eaton W, Lidz C. A systematic review of evidence for the clubhouse model of psychosocial rehabilitation. Adm Policy Ment Health Ment Health Serv Res. 2018;45(1):28–47.CrossRef
42.
Vusio F, Thompson A, Birchwood M, Clarke L. Experiences and satisfaction of children, young people and their parents with alternative mental health models to inpatient settings: a systematic review. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;29(12):1621–33.
43.
Mayhew C, Chappell D. Workplace violence in the health sector–a case study in Australia. J Occup Health Saf Austr N Z. 2003;19(6):1–43.
44.
Skeem JL, Polaschek DLL. High risk, not hopeless: Correctional intervention for people at risk for violence. Marq L Rev. 2020;103(3):1129–48.
45.
Payne J. Recidivism in Australia: findings and future research. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology; 2007.
46.
Higgs T, Cortoni F, Nunes K. Reducing violence risk? Some positive recidivism outcomes for Canadian treated high-risk offenders. Crim Justice Behav. 2019;46(3):359–73.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Barriers, enablers, and opportunities for organisational follow-up of workplace violence from the perspective of emergency department nurses: a qualitative study
Authors
Brodie Thomas
Anthony McGillion
Kristina Edvardsson
Peter O’Meara
Julia Van Vuuren
Evelien Spelten
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Emergency Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-227X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-021-00413-7

Other articles of this Issue 1/2021

BMC Emergency Medicine 1/2021 Go to the issue

Research article

Health care providers’ perception of the frequent emergency department user issue and of targeted case management interventions: a cross-sectional national survey in Switzerland

Research

A first-aid fast track channel for rescuing critically ill children with airway foreign bodies: our clinical experience

Research

Workplace violence and influencing factors among paramedic pre hospital paramedic personnel (city and road) in Iran: a quality content analysis

Research article

Organisational determinants and consequences of diagnostic discrepancy in two large patient groups in the emergency departments: a national study of consecutive episodes between 2008 and 2016

Research article

Ultrasonography indicators for predicting difficult intubation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Research article

Anterior-posterior view by full-body digital X-ray to rule out severe spinal injuries in Polytraumatized patients