The Impact of Workplace Violence on Headache and Sleep Problems in Nurses

The effectiveness of a workplace violence prevention strategy based on situational prevention theory for nurses in managing violent situations: a quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

Workplace violence (WPV) poses a significant occupational hazard for nurses. The efficacy of current education and training programs in mitigating WPV incidence among nurses remains uncertain, possibly due to insufficient consideration of clinical contexts and nurses' specific needs. Therefore, this study developed a WPV prevention strategy based on the actual requirements of clinical nurses and situational prevention theory and aimed to explore its application effects.

METHODS

Under the guidance of situational prevention theory, a WPV prevention strategy for nurses was constructed through literature review, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion. This study adopted a self-controlled research design, and trained 130 nurses selected from a comprehensive tertiary grade A hospital in Suzhou in this WPV prevention strategy. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, including the revised WPV questionnaire, WPV severity grading scale, and hospital WPV coping resources scale. The WPV incidence, severity, and WPV coping resource scores of nurses were collected before the intervention, as well as at 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months after training.

RESULTS

The WPV prevention strategy comprised 11 prevention plans based on 11 high-risk situational elements of WPV. Each prevention plan included the WPV prevention flowchart, treatment principle, and communication strategy. The strategy demonstrated excellent feasibility and practicality. Following the intervention, the overall incidence of WPV among nurses significantly decreased from 63.85% (baseline) to 46.15% (9 months after training) (P < 0.05). After the training, the severity of psychological violence (Wald χ² = 20.066, P < 0.001) and physical violence (Wald χ² = 9.100, P = 0.028) reported by nurses decreased compared to the baseline (P < 0.05). Moreover, the overall WPV coping resource score significantly increased from [66.50 (57.00, 77.25) points] (baseline) to [80.00 (68.00, 97.25) points] (9 months after training) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The described WPV prevention strategy, grounded in situational prevention theory and tailored to the needs of clinical nurses, effectively reduced WPV incidence, mitigated its severity, and enhanced nurses' WPV coping resources. This approach offered new avenues for nurses in the prevention of WPV.

Headache Characteristics and Risk Factors Among Healthcare Providers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Introduction Headache is a considerable factor in decreased productivity and work efficiency. This study aims to measure the characteristics of headaches and the risk factors among healthcare providers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study included 353 healthcare providers from Al-Alhsa, Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire was conducted to assess the demographic and occupational characteristics, headaches, numerous factors such as smoking, caffeine intake, physical activity, and medical conditions to determine their associations with headaches, as well as the impact of headaches on productivity. Results Among participants who reported headaches, 15.6% and 4.5% had been previously diagnosed with tension headaches and migraines, respectively. The mean duration of headaches was 7.09±18.16 hours; 38.5% of headaches were throbbing in nature, while 61.5% were pressing. The headache was on one side in 51.6% and accompanied by nausea and vomiting in 41.1% and 24.1%, respectively. Moreover, 53% and 41.9% experienced worsening of headaches by exercise and light, respectively. Tension headaches occurred more in older healthcare providers (P <0.05) and those who reported working night shifts (P=0.002). Healthcare providers with tension headaches reported having an intrusive leader and violence at work (P=0.038 and P=0.013, respectively). Caffeine consumption, emotional stress, and using oral contraceptive pills (OCP) were significantly correlated with migraine (P=0.023, P=0.017, and P=0.004, respectively). The reported headache affected the productivity of 62.59% of individuals. Conclusions Headache is common among healthcare providers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The study indicates that tension headache is associated with aging, night shifts, having an intrusive leader, and violence at work. In contrast, migraine is correlated with caffeine consumption, emotional stress, and OCP use. The productivity of healthcare providers is affected negatively by headaches.

Impact of workplace violence against psychological health among nurse staff from Yunnan-Myanmar Chinese border region: propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Owing to different social background factor in Yunnan-Myanmar Chinese border region, stressful working environment may lead to extra psychological burden among nurse staff in China. However, the prevalence of workplace violence and its effect on psychological characteristics among nurse staff are still unclear. This study aims to explore the effect of workplace violence against psychological health among nurse staff from Yunnan-Myanmar Chinese border region.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 18 local governmental hospitals in Dehong districts. Participants were 1,774 nurses. Psychosocial characteristics were screened by sleep quality, the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire for depressive symptoms, the generalized anxiety disorder-7 for anxiety symptoms, the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale - 10 item for resilience, the multidimensional scale of perceived social support for social support, the Chinese version of Work place Violence Scale for workplace violence. Propensity score matching and multivariate linear regression were applied to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The nurse staff with workplace violence have a higher risk of bad sleep quality (b = -0.883, 95%CI = [-1.171, -0.595]), anxiety symptoms (b = 2.531, 95%CI = [2.031, 3.031]) and depressive symptoms (b = 3.227, 95%CI = [2.635, 3.819]), loneliness (b = 0.683, 95%CI = [0.503, 0.863]), perceived cognitive deficits (b = 1.629, 95%CI = [1.131, 2.127]), poor resilience (b = -2.012, 95%CI = [-2.963, -1.061]), and poor social support (b = -5.659, 95%CI = [-7.307, -4.011]).

CONCLUSIONS

Preventing workplace violence can improve mental health outcomes significantly among nurse staff, including loneliness, perceived cognitive deficits, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, sleep quality, resilience and social support.

Associations of Workplace Violence With Cardiovascular Disease Among United States Workers: Findings From a National Survey

OBJECTIVES

Recent research indicates a potential association between workplace violence and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the working-age population. However, the relevant evidence in the United States is sparse. Thus, this study was conducted to explore the possible relationship between workplace violence and CVD among United States workers.

METHODS

We utilized cross-sectional data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey, which included a representative sample of 18 380 workers, to investigate the associations between workplace violence and the prevalence of CVD using logistic regression. Workplace violence was determined based on self-reported threats, bullying, or harassment at work over the past 12 months, supplemented with additional information regarding frequency. CVD included all forms of heart disease and stroke.

RESULTS

A total of 1334 workers reported experiences of workplace violence, and 1336 workers were diagnosed with CVD. After adjustment for covariates, participants who reported any instance of workplace violence had significantly higher odds of having CVD (odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35 to 2.30) than those who reported no such violence. Furthermore, the highest odds of CVD (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.23 to 2.63) were observed among those frequently exposed to workplace violence. Even occasional exposure to workplace violence was associated with 74% excess odds of CVD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates an association between workplace violence and CVD in United States workers, exhibiting a dose-response pattern.

Workplace Health Promotion Embedded in Medical Surveillance: The Italian Way to Total Worker Health Program

In 2011, NIOSH launched the Total Worker Health (TWH) strategy based on integrating prevention and health promotion in the workplace. For several years now, in Italy, this integration has led to the creation of workplace health promotion embedded in medical surveillance (WHPEMS). WHPEMS projects, which are also implemented in small companies, focus each year on a new topic that emerges from the needs of workers. During their regular medical check-up in the workplace, workers are invited to fill in a questionnaire regarding the project topic, its outcome, and some related factors. Workers receive advice on how to improve their lifestyles and are referred to the National Health Service for any necessary tests or treatments. Results collected over the past 12 years from more than 20,000 participants demonstrate that WHPEMS projects are economical, sustainable, and effective. The creation of a network of occupational physicians who are involved in WHPEMS projects could help to improve the work culture, health, and safety of workers.

Headache in Workers: A Matched Case-Control Study

A case−control study including 446 workers reporting headaches (cases; 136 males and 310 females, mean age 46.71 ± 10.84 years) and 446 age- and sex-matched colleagues without headaches (controls; mean age 45.44 ± 10.13) was conducted in the second half of 2020 in a sample drawn from socio health and commercial services companies to investigate the association of headache with lifestyle, metabolic, and work-related factors. Workers suffering from headache reported higher body weight (OR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.46−2.53, p < 0.001), higher blood cholesterol (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.46−2.77, p < 0.001), triglyceride (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.20−3.35, p < 0.01), blood glucose (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.16−3.24, p < 0.01), and blood pressure levels (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.23−2.52, p < 0.01). In the year preceding the survey, cases had experienced a higher frequency of workplace violence (OR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.25−4.20, p < 0.01 for physical aggression, OR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.45−3.41, p < 0.001 for threat, OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.72−4.38, p < 0.001 for harassment) and were more frequently distressed (effort/reward ratio > 1) (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.39−2.40, p < 0.001) than the controls. Compared to the controls, cases also had higher scores on anxiety and depression scales, lower scores on happiness, and lower levels of sleep quality (p < 0.001). The association of headaches with metabolic and mental health problems suggests that monitoring headaches in the workplace could help to identify workers at risk of impairment.