<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0027_s_333_w2aab3b8c11b1b7b1aab1c15b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>The purpose of this research was to identify the prevalence of violence towards nursing staff in Slovenian nursing homes.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0027_s_334_w2aab3b8c11b1b7b1aab1c15b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>For the purpose of this study, a non-experimental sampling method was employed, using a structured questionnaire as a data collection instrument (n=527). The contents of the questionnaire proved valid and reliable, with a high enough degree of internal consistency (Cronbach Alpha minimum 0.82).</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0027_s_335_w2aab3b8c11b1b7b1aab1c15b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>The nursing staffs working in nursing homes for senior citizens are at high risk of violence. In the last year, the employees were most often faced with verbal violence (71.7%), physical violence (63.8%) and sexual violence (35.5%). 35.5% of employees suffered injuries at their working place. During aggressive outbursts of nursing home residents, employees particularly experience vulnerability, fear and insecurity.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2016-0027_s_336_w2aab3b8c11b1b7b1aab1c15b4Aa"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>There is a need for a comprehensive approach to tackle workplace violence. Some psychiatric health care facilities have already introduced certain measures in this field, and reduction of workplace violence proves that it is possible to reduce aggressive outbursts of patients. After conducting further quantitative research, which would expose detailed characteristics and the background of such violence, it would be sensible to develop similar measures in the field of health care in nursing homes.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionThe purpose of this research was to identify the prevalence of violence towards nursing staff in Slovenian nursing homes.MethodsFor the purpose of this study, a non-experimental sampling method was employed, using a structured questionnaire as a data collection instrument (n=527). The contents of the questionnaire proved valid and reliable, with a high enough degree of internal consistency (Cronbach Alpha minimum 0.82).ResultsThe nursing staffs working in nursing homes for senior citizens are at high risk of violence. In the last year, the employees were most often faced with verbal violence (71.7%), physical violence (63.8%) and sexual violence (35.5%). 35.5% of employees suffered injuries at their working place. During aggressive outbursts of nursing home residents, employees particularly experience vulnerability, fear and insecurity.ConclusionThere is a need for a comprehensive approach to tackle workplace violence. Some psychiatric health care facilities have already introduced certain measures in this field, and reduction of workplace violence proves that it is possible to reduce aggressive outbursts of patients. After conducting further quantitative research, which would expose detailed characteristics and the background of such violence, it would be sensible to develop similar measures in the field of health care in nursing homes.

Prevalence of violence towards nursing staff in Slovenian nursing homes

National Institute of Public Health, Trubarjeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana,

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana,

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

PREVALENCA NASILJA NAD ZAPOSLENIMI V ZDRAVSTVENI NEGI V DOMOVIH STAREJŠIH OBČANOV

IntroductionThe purpose of this research was to identify the prevalence of violence towards nursing staff in Slovenian nursing homes.MethodsFor the purpose of...

Prevalence of violence towards nursing staff in Slovenian nursing homes

Article Category: Research article

Published Online: May 10, 2016

Page range: 212 - 217

Received: Nov 16, 2015

Accepted: Mar 24, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2016-0027

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.