Versions
- 2024-08-02 (2)
- 2024-08-02 (1)
Keywords
healthcare workers
violence
COVID-19
pandemic
Abstract
Background: Violence against healthcare workers is an escalating public health concern, affecting the quality of care and leading to significant psychological and physical impacts on healthcare professionals. This study aims to analyse the trend of aggressions in healthcare settings, particularly focusing on the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic phases.
Methods: An observational descriptive study was conducted to analyse reports of violence against healthcare workers from January 2018 to June 2023 at a Local Health Authority “ASL3” in the Liguria region of Italy. The study considered variables such as severity of aggression, professional category involved, and location of incident. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine associations between the pandemic phase and various factors, while controlling for relevant variables.
Results: The study noted an increase in reported aggressions from 48 in 2018 to 35 in the first half of 2023. The pandemic phase saw a rise in incidents classified as Green codes, accounting for 58.3%, and significant involvement of District Services. The post-pandemic phase showed a reversion to pre-pandemic conditions but with an increase in Yellow codes (5.6%). Nurses were predominantly affected, ranging from 50.8% to 95.6% across the years. The Emergency Department and Psychiatric Services emerged as the most critical contexts for aggressions, with recorded incidents in these areas constituting over half of the total cases. However, an increase in violence has been recorded in district healthcare settings during the post-pandemic phase.
Conclusion: The findings reveal an urgent need for comprehensive violence prevention strategies in healthcare settings. The trend of increasing violence, especially during the pandemic, necessitates integrated approaches encompassing training, psychological support, security policies, and a strong organizational culture promoting safety and respect. Protecting healthcare workers is crucial for their wellbeing and the quality of healthcare delivery, highlighting the necessity for effective policies and targeted interventions to ensure a safe working environment.
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