Aim: To identify interventions and strategies to prevent patient- and visitor-perpetrated violence against nurses working in acute hospital Emergency Departments. Design Scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL to identify relevant studies published up to June 2024. The review included primary research studies employing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. Eligibility criteria focused on interventions aimed at preventing physical and verbal violence in acute hospital emergency settings, explicitly targeting nurses. The selection process followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines, with independent screening and data extraction by two reviewer pairs. Data Sources PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched for studies published up to June 2024. Results: A total of 40 studies were included, covering interventions across 11 countries, mostly from the United States. Interventions were categorised as organisational, environmental, or individual-focused. Training programs were the most common strategy, followed by risk assessment tools, defense strategies, multidisciplinary briefings, and technology-assisted interventions. Most interventions (73%) were implemented before violent incidents, 23% during, and 5% after. Healthcare workers, particularly nurses, were the primary target group, highlighting the need for effective preventive strategies. Conclusion: Violence prevention interventions in Emergency Departments focus on pre-incident strategies, mainly organisational and individual-focused. Limited attention has been given to environmental interventions despite their role in mitigating workplace violence. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of these strategies. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: Addressing workplace violence in EDs ensures a safer work environment, improves staff retention, and enhances patient care quality. Patient or Public Contribution: This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.
Interventions to Prevent Patient- and Visitor-Perpetrated Violence Against Nurses in the Emergency Department: A Scoping Review
Gammone M.;Cattani D.;Barbieri M.;Moro A.;Zanini M.;Catania G.;Sasso L.;Timmins F.;Bagnasco A.
2025-01-01
Abstract
Aim: To identify interventions and strategies to prevent patient- and visitor-perpetrated violence against nurses working in acute hospital Emergency Departments. Design Scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL to identify relevant studies published up to June 2024. The review included primary research studies employing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches. Eligibility criteria focused on interventions aimed at preventing physical and verbal violence in acute hospital emergency settings, explicitly targeting nurses. The selection process followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines, with independent screening and data extraction by two reviewer pairs. Data Sources PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched for studies published up to June 2024. Results: A total of 40 studies were included, covering interventions across 11 countries, mostly from the United States. Interventions were categorised as organisational, environmental, or individual-focused. Training programs were the most common strategy, followed by risk assessment tools, defense strategies, multidisciplinary briefings, and technology-assisted interventions. Most interventions (73%) were implemented before violent incidents, 23% during, and 5% after. Healthcare workers, particularly nurses, were the primary target group, highlighting the need for effective preventive strategies. Conclusion: Violence prevention interventions in Emergency Departments focus on pre-incident strategies, mainly organisational and individual-focused. Limited attention has been given to environmental interventions despite their role in mitigating workplace violence. Further research is needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of these strategies. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: Addressing workplace violence in EDs ensures a safer work environment, improves staff retention, and enhances patient care quality. Patient or Public Contribution: This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.
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