Workplace Violence, Hostility & Safety

Workplace violence has been documented as a global, epidemic healthcare- related problem. The American Nurses Association (ANA) describes customer/client violence as an assault from a member of the public with whom the nurse interacts during the course of their regular duties. According to the ANA's website, types of violence that contribute to unsafe work environments are varying. However the customer/client violence type is prevalently experienced in healthcare, and 1 in 4 nurses are abused and experience workplace violence.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Violence
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Online Survey

Detailed Description

Based on anecdotal reports at MRMC, and as a follow up to a 2020 research study, evidence-based practice research council (EBPRC) members and staff asked colleagues about stress-producing events in their scope of work. It was reported that individuals were unclear about available resources and preparation to handle unsafe environments when client/visitor behaviors escalated to aggressive or unsafe situations. The EBPRC members reviewed the MRMC policies related to violence/assault/injury towards MRMC personnel. What remains unclear is if staff are aware of existing policies and are adhering to reporting guidelines pertaining to employee and stakeholder safety. Additionally, based on literature review, the problem of workplace violence perpetrated by patients and visitors is excessive and escalating nationally and internationally. Additionally, at MRMC, the EBPRC acquired documentation of the number of reported assaults, aggressive behavior or violence of stakeholders (patients and visitors) towards healthcare providers that were documented and referred to the MRMC employee health services. From the local hospital's tally, there were 28 cases from January, 10, 2020 to February 4, 2021. Of the 28 cases, seven occurred between February 2, 2021 and February 4, 2021. Hence, it is essential to conduct a study targeting healthcare workers at MRMC to identify opportunities for further intervention that creates a safety-focused, supportive culture.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that employees and employers work together to prevent or abate recognized hazardous and cited workplace areas for concerns and develop a successful safety and health management system especially for Healthcare and Social Services workers.

• Study Type: Observational

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Richardson, Texas, United States, 75082
      • Methodist Richardson Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

full-time, part-time or PRN [per diem] employee of MRMC, who cares for or has contact with patients and visitors.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• must be a full-time, part-time or PRN [per diem] employee of MRMC
• who cares for or has contact with patients and visitors
• able to read and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who are not full-time, part-time or PRN employees of MRMC who cares for or has contact with patient s and visitors

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
healthcare workers at MRMC	Other: Online Survey; Online survey void of individual traceable identifiers, and launched via the Survey Monkey® portal

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
An investigator-developed questionnaire and demographic tool	based on feedback from members of the EBPRC as well as a relevant literature review will be used to evaluate group demographic characteristics and perceived preparedness and exposure for handling aggressive patients/visitors at MRMC	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Education Level	High School diploma, College Associate, College Bachelor, masters, Doctoral, other	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Status of service	Full time, part-time, per diem	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Years of experience at Methodist	6 months to more than 11 years	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Job status/title	RN, Tech/PCT or other	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Age	Current age in years	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Gender	Male or female	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Ethnicity	Caucasian/white , Black/African American, Hispanic, Asian, or other	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Which, if any, items do you consider an act of physical abuse or violence in the workplace	Hitting, Slapping, Biting, Spitting, Throwing or other	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Have you ever experienced physical abuse at MRMC that involved a patient/visitor, within the last two years?	Yes or No	from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Methodist Health System
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Maxine Adegbola,, PH.D., Methodist Health System

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 28, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 3, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): February 4, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 27, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 26, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 027.NUR.2021.R

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: No plans to share data

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No