Anti-violence measures developed by ILO and WHO: Analysis of the prevalence of workplace violence and the effects of implementation in a general hospital in China

Abstract

ObjectiveWorkplace violence (WPV) not only affects workers' physical and mental health but also increases turnover rates and social costs. There are no studies that have consistently followed the prevalence of WPV and the effectiveness of anti-violence measures in cross-sectional studies of the same hospital. The main aim of this study was to understand the prevalence of WPV among medical staff in a hospital in China and the effectiveness of implemented anti-violence measures.MethodsA cross-sectional survey, which was conducted by using a questionnaire developed by the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization, was administered in a tertiary hospital in China in 2022 to investigate the occurrence of violence in the past year. Valid data were collected from 1,195 respondents via cell phone. WPV was compared between this survey and a baseline survey conducted at the same hospital in 2017 using the same questionnaire. The relationship between years and gender and occupation was explored using the Cochran–Armitage trend test. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to respond to the effects of the anti-violence interventions.ResultsAfter the implementation of anti-violence measures, the prevalence of WPV decreased from 48.47 in 2017 to 33.95% in 2021. The recognition of safety measures increased from 80.16 in 2017 to 87.70% in 2021(P < 0.001), improvement of the work environment increased from 56.57 in 2017 to 65.10% in 2021(P < 0.001), restricted of public access increased from 34.36 in 2017 to 55.60% in 2021(P < 0.001), the patient protocols increased from 37.42 in 2017 to 38.40% in 2021, patient screening increased from 32.11 in 2017 to 41.90% in 2021(P < 0.001), and strict restrictions on workplace cash activities from 29.65% in 2017 to 36.00% in 2021(P < 0.05). The percentage of health workers who felt that anti-violence measures were not at all helpful to their current work decreased from 2017 to 2021.ConclusionsThe prevalence of workplace violence has decreased, recognition of interventions has increased, and the proportion of interventions that are perceived by HWs as not helpful at all has decreased. This study demonstrates that the 12 anti-violence measures recommended by the International Labor Organization are applicable in China. Based on this, hospitals should focus on the improvement of the intervention effect of the following measures to further prevent violence.

Effect of safety and security equipment on patient and visitor violence towards nurses in multiple public hospitals of China during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, difference-in-difference analysis

“…The joint efforts of the Chinese government, society and individuals have promoted legislation that protects healthcare workers and the development of authoritative WPV guidelines 38. The Regulations on Hospital Safety Order Management of Beijing was put into effect in July 2020, stipulating that ‘hospitals shall establish a safety inspection system and conduct safety inspection at the entrance of hospitals or key areas as needed to strictly prevent prohibited and restricted items from entering hospitals’ 39…”

“…38 The Regulations on Hospital Safety Order Management of Beijing was put into effect in July 2020, stipulating that ‘hospitals shall establish a safety inspection system and conduct safety inspection at the entrance of hospitals or key areas as needed to strictly prevent prohibited and restricted items from entering hospitals’. 39 …”

“…Most tertiary 38 The Regulations on Hospital Safety Order Management of Beijing was put into effect in July 2020, stipulating that 'hospitals shall establish a safety inspection system and conduct safety inspection at the entrance of hospitals or key areas as needed to strictly prevent prohibited and restricted items from entering hospitals'. 39 The results emphasise the importance of considering the unique characteristics and requirements of different departments when formulating security strategies. The control group and treatment group may face different work environments and potential risks, necessitating tailored security measures.…”

The frequency of workplace violence against healthcare workers and affecting factors

“…In hospitals and healthcare facilities worldwide, patients and visitors are reported to have increasingly perpetrated verbal and physical violence against HCWs [2,[5][6][7][8]. There are a number of adverse consequences associated with WPV for HCWs, including increased psychological stress, diminished job satisfaction, and decreased productivity [10,25,26]. Therefore, defining the frequency and affecting factors of WPV among healthcare professionals is essential before developing prevention policies and interventions.…”

Eliciting psychiatric nurses’ preferences for workplace violence prevention: a protocol for discrete choice experiment

“…Many studies have explored prevention and response measures for workplace violence ( 23–28 ), but these studies are mostly conducted in developed countries, and there are no quantitative research results targeting the views of psychiatric nurses. Although many measures have been taken to reduce workplace violence ( 29 , 30 ), but their effectiveness has not been satisfactory, and workplace violence against healthcare workers remains an urgent issue to be addressed in China ( 31–33 ). Preventive strategies developed based on the needs and preferences of psychiatric nurses are more effective.…”