When Care Turns Hostile—Threats and Violence Toward Staff in Somatic Healthcare.

Background/Objectives: Workplace violence in the healthcare sector is a growing global concern. Defined as incidents where staff are abused, threatened, or assaulted in work-related contexts, this issue affects over half of healthcare personnel worldwide, with nurses being particularly vulnerable. T...

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Publicado en:Nursing Reports Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 5 - 21
Autores principales: Roos, Anne Karine Østbye, Løkkeberg, Stine Eileen Torp, Grøndahl, Vigdis Abrahamsen, Helgesen, Ann Karin
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: MDPI Jan2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jan2026
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      pub: MDPI
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        atl: When Care Turns Hostile—Threats and Violence Toward Staff in Somatic Healthcare.
      aug:
        au:
          Roos, Anne Karine Østbye
          Løkkeberg, Stine Eileen Torp
          Grøndahl, Vigdis Abrahamsen
          Helgesen, Ann Karin
        affil: Intensive Care Department, Ostfold Hospital Trust, 1714 Grålum, Norway
      sug:
        subj:
          Workplace Violence Evaluation
          Incident Reports Evaluation
          Personnel, Health Facility
          Hospital Units
          Human
          Norway
          Funding Source
          Hospitals, Public
          Qualitative Studies
          Violence
          Stress, Psychological
          Sexual Abuse
          Aggression
          Prevalence
          Policy Making
          Occupational Safety
          Psychological Well-Being
      ab: Background/Objectives: Workplace violence in the healthcare sector is a growing global concern. Defined as incidents where staff are abused, threatened, or assaulted in work-related contexts, this issue affects over half of healthcare personnel worldwide, with nurses being particularly vulnerable. The consequences are far-reaching, leading to diminished service quality, workforce turnover, reduced healthcare access, and increased costs. Despite its physical and psychological impact, workplace violence remains underreported, especially in its psychological forms, which have historically been underestimated. Methods: This study applies Per Isdal's typology of violence to analyze incident reports from a hospital setting. By doing so, it offers a structured framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of workplace violence. By categorizing and examining how different forms of violence co-occur and manifest in daily professional interactions, the study aims to contribute to more systematic documentation and theoretical understanding of the field. Results: In total, 247 incidents were analyzed. Physical violence was the most frequently reported type with 167 incidents, followed by psychological violence with 125 cases. Material violence accounted for 28 reports, sexual violence for 10, and latent violence for 4, indicating that physical and psychological aggression dominates the spectrum of workplace violence in this context. Conclusions: The prevalence and complexity of violent incidents targeting healthcare personnel highlight the pressing need for actionable policies and evidence-based interventions that prioritize staff safety and psychological well-being. Establishing clear definitions of violence, alongside fostering a culture of reporting, is essential to create safer and more resilient healthcare environments.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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