Risk factors for workplace violence in clinical registered nurses in Taiwan

Aims and objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors and mental health consequences of physical and psychological violence for clinical nurses working in healthcare settings in Taiwan. Background. Registered nurses working in hospitals in Taiwan report high incidences of workplace violence. However, previous studies rarely report psychological abuse among nursing staff, while the relationships between personal factors and workplace violence remain unclear. Design. This is a cross-sectional study. Methods. Participants were invited to complete the Workplace Violence Questionnaire, an instrument designed to assess types of workplace violence (physical violence, verbal abuse, bullying/mobbing and sexual harassment), the characteristics of perpetrators and victims and victims' reactions to their abuse. Results. A total of 521 nurses completed the questionnaire. Of the participants, 102 (19 center dot 6%) indicated that they had experienced physical violence, 268 (51 center dot 4%) had experienced verbal abuse, 155 (29 center dot 8%) had experienced bullying/mobbing and 67 (12 center dot 9%) had experienced sexual harassment. Multiple logistic analyses indicated that age under 30 years (odds ratio = 2 center dot 4; 95% confidence interval = 1 center dot 34-4 center dot 46) and anxiety (odds ratio = 4 center dot 7; 95% confidence interval = 1 center dot 24-18 center dot 12) increased the odds of verbal abuse, while bullying was associated with anxiety (odds ratio = 2 center dot 7, 95% confidence interval = 1 center dot 09-6 center dot 93). Night work shift increased the odds of experiencing sexual harassment (odds ratio = 2 center dot 3, 95% confidence interval = 1 center dot 29-4 center dot 16), while physical violence was associated with bachelor's degree (odds ratio = 2 center dot 8, 95% confidence interval = 1 center dot 20-6 center dot 73). The most serious psychological harm was post-traumatic stress disorder. Conclusions. Exposure to psychological violence often has a great impact on clinical nurses. Relevance to clinical practice. For violence prevention, interventions should be sensitive to personal factors. Healthcare institutions should initiate counselling programs to help nurses cope with the stress related to workplace violence.