Violence Prevention Research Articles Pertaining To The Repo

Violence Prevention Research Articles Pertaining To the Reporting Of W

Violence prevention research articles pertaining to the reporting of workplace violence (WPV): Several key studies examine the underreporting of WPV in healthcare settings, the measures used for incident reporting, staff perceptions of safety, barriers to reporting, and interventions to improve reporting practices. These studies highlight the challenges in accurately capturing WPV incidents and offer insights into strategies that can foster a safer work environment for healthcare professionals.

The first article by Arnetz et al. (2015) investigates the discrepancy between self-reported WPV incidents and actual documented events in a hospital setting. The researchers conducted a survey among hospital employees, comparing self-reports of violence with documented reports in an electronic database. The findings revealed significant underreporting; 88% of respondents who reported experiencing violence did not document the incident formally. Notably, those injured or unable to work were more likely to report formally, indicating that perceived severity influences reporting behavior. The study emphasizes that informal reporting, such as reporting to supervisors, occurs more frequently than formal documentation, underscoring a critical barrier in establishing comprehensive WPV data. Limitations of this study include low response rate (22%) and reliance on retrospective self-reports, which are susceptible to recall bias. The study’s design does not explore the types of violence, possibly missing underreported non-physical acts, which are equally relevant in WPV literature.

Campbell et al. (2015) conducted a systematic review aiming to evaluate instruments used to measure and report incidents of patient violence against healthcare providers. This review underscores the global prevalence of WPV and notes the lack of standardized reporting tools across healthcare organizations. The authors found that underreporting remains a pervasive problem, hindering organizational efforts to develop effective prevention strategies. Limitations recognized include the exclusive focus on English-language articles and the exclusion of studies related to visitor or patient-perpetrated violence, which may underestimate the true scope of WPV.

Copeland, Burg, and Gammonley (2015) examined the perceptions of emergency department (ED) staff regarding WPV, including exposure, safety perceptions, and reporting behaviors. Using a cross-sectional survey at a Level 1 trauma center, the study found that 88% of staff experienced WPV in the preceding six months. Interestingly, most staff felt safe at work despite frequent violence, possibly reflecting a perception that violence is part of the job. The disparity between exposure and perceived safety raises questions about normalization of violence and the potential influence of training or organizational culture. Limitations include a single-site sample and predominance of experienced, higher-educated staff, which may not reflect experiences of less experienced personnel.

Hogarth, Beattie, and Morphet (2016) explored nurses’ attitudes toward reporting violence through qualitative focus groups. The study uncovered that nurses tend to accept violence as inherent to their roles, often not defining certain behaviors as reportable violence, especially when no physical harm occurs. Barriers such as the cumbersome reporting process and fear of retaliation further inhibit formal reporting. A notable finding was nurses’ motivation to report violence mainly to protect themselves from future complaints, rather than for organizational safety. The phenomenological approach provided rich insights but could be biased due to voluntary participation and the specific focus on a single institution.

Findorff et al. (2005) assessed individual and employment characteristics affecting violence reporting within a healthcare organization in the Midwest. The survey revealed that only 57% of physical violence and 40% of non-physical violence incidents were reported, primarily orally. Women were more likely to report than men, and reporting was associated with experiencing adverse symptoms. The study's limitations include a small sample size and potential recall bias. Despite these issues, it highlighted demographic factors influencing reporting behaviors, emphasizing the need for organizational policies that encourage reporting and address barriers.

Stene, Larson, Levy, and Dohlman (2015) described a quality improvement project aimed at increasing WPV reporting within EDs through staff education and the development of concise reporting tools. Following implementation, staff awareness of violence types improved, and reporting increased, creating a perception of a safer environment. The study demonstrated that educational interventions, leadership support, and easy-to-use reporting tools can foster a culture of safety. However, the study was limited to a single hospital, and the survey questions lacked prior validation by an ethics review, which may impact the reliability of findings.

In conclusion, these studies collectively reveal that underreporting of WPV is a significant challenge in healthcare settings, driven by factors such as complex reporting systems, normalization of violence, fear of retaliation, and lack of standardized measurement tools. Enhancing reporting processes through education, simplifying reporting mechanisms, and fostering organizational support are crucial strategies for comprehensively understanding and addressing WPV. Accurate data collection enables targeted interventions, ultimately leading to improved staff safety and well-being.

Paper For Above instruction

Workplace violence (WPV) in healthcare settings remains a pervasive challenge, with significant implications for staff safety, organizational safety culture, and quality of care. Despite its recognized prevalence, underreporting of WPV incidents inhibits effective prevention strategies and skews the understanding of the scope of the problem. The research in this field reveals common themes: barriers to reporting are multifaceted, including complex reporting procedures, normalization of violence, fear of retaliation, and lack of awareness about what constitutes reportable violence. Addressing these barriers through multifaceted interventions is essential for creating safer healthcare workplaces.

The discrepancy between actual and reported incidents of WPV was highlighted by Arnetz et al. (2015), whose study compared self-reported violence with documented hospital records. Their findings underscore a significant underreporting issue, with nearly 88% of self-reported incidents not reflected in formal documentation. The likelihood of formal reporting increased when workers were injured or unable to work, suggesting that perceived severity influences reporting behavior. However, the low response rate and reliance on retrospective self-report surveys pose limitations, possibly underestimating or skewing the true extent of underreporting. Additionally, the study's focus on formal documentation missed the informal channels—such as verbal reports to supervisors—that may constitute significant portions of WPV reporting.

Similarly, Campbell et al. (2015) conducted a systematic review examining tools used to measure and report patient violence against healthcare staff. The review identified a lack of standardized measures across healthcare institutions, which hampers efforts to collect reliable data and develop targeted prevention strategies. Notably, underreporting persists on an international scale, and the review underscores the need for consistent, validated reporting instruments. Limitations include language restrictions to English, which may exclude relevant non-English literature, and the exclusion of visitor-perpetrated violence, potentially underestimating the overall problem.

In the emergency department context, Copeland et al. (2015) explored staff perceptions of WPV, including exposure, safety perceptions, and barriers to reporting. Their survey revealed high exposure levels (88%) but a notable gap between experience and reporting—many incidents went unreported because staff believed they caused no harm or because reporting was perceived as cumbersome. Interestingly, despite frequent violence, most staff still felt safe at work, a phenomenon that could reflect normalization or resilience but also indicates potential underestimation of hazards by staff.

Hogarth, Beattie, and Morphet (2016) delved into nurses’ attitudes towards WPV reporting through qualitative analysis. Their findings emphasize that nurses often accept violence as part of their job, especially when no physical injury occurs, and tend to define violence narrowly, excluding verbal abuse or psychologically threatening behaviors unless physical harm is present. Barriers such as the complexity of the reporting system and fear of backlash further dissuade formal reporting. The phenomenological approach offered rich personal insights but is limited in generalizability due to small sample size and institutional specificity.

Findorff et al. (2005) investigated demographic factors influencing violence reporting behavior through a cross-sectional survey within a healthcare organization. The study found that women reported violence more frequently than men, and adverse symptoms from violence increased the likelihood of reporting. This research highlights how individual and employment characteristics influence reporting, reinforcing the need for tailored organizational policies to encourage reporting among all staff.

Finally, Stene et al. (2015) implemented a quality improvement project in an ED setting aimed at increasing reporting through staff education and simplified reporting tools. Following intervention, staff demonstrated greater knowledge of violent acts and reported more incidents, which they associated with a sense of increased safety. This initiative underscores the potential of education and leadership support in cultivating a safety culture. Nonetheless, the study's single-site design and lack of prior instrument validation suggest caution in generalizing findings broadly.

In summation, WPV remains underreported in healthcare, primarily due to systemic, cultural, and individual barriers. Effective mitigation requires comprehensive strategies, including streamlining reporting procedures, staff education, clear definitions of violence, fostering organizational support, and cultivating a safety culture. Accurate reporting fosters better understanding, targeted policy development, and ultimately, safer workplaces. Future research should focus on validating standardized reporting tools across diverse settings, exploring non-physical violence, and understanding how perceptions influence reporting behaviors.

References

• Arnetz, J. E., Hamblin, L., Ager, J., Luborsky, M., Upfal, M. J., Russell, J., & Essenmacher, L. (2015). Underreporting of workplace violence: Comparison of self-report and actual documentation of hospital incidents. Workplace health & safety, 63(5), 200–210. doi:10.1177/
• Campbell, C. L., Burg, M. A., & Gammonley, D. (2015). Measures for incident reporting of patient violence and aggression towards healthcare providers: A systematic review. Aggression & Violent Behavior, 25, 314–322.
• Copeland, D., Burg, M. A., & Gammonley, D. (2015). Workplace Violence and Perceptions of Safety Among Emergency Department Staff Members: Experiences, Expectations, Tolerance, Reporting, and Recommendations. JOURNAL OF TRAUMA NURSING, 24(2), 65–77.
• Hogarth, K. M., Beattie, J., & Morphet, J. (2016). Nurses’ attitudes towards the reporting of violence in the emergency department. Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal, 19(2), 75.
• Findorff, M. J., McGovern, P. M., Wall, M. M., & Gerberich, S. G. (2005). Reporting violence to a healthcare employer: A cross-sectional study. AAOHN Journal, 53(9), 399–406.
• Stene, J., Larson, E., Levy, M., & Dohlman, M. (2015). Workplace violence in the emergency department: giving staff the tools and support to report. The Permanente journal, 19(2), e113–e117. doi:10.7812/TPP/14-187