Patient and visitor aggression in healthcare: a survey exploring organizational safety culture and team efficacy

Heckemann, Birgit; Hahn, Sabine; Halfens, Ruud J. G.; Richter, Dirk; Schols, Jos M. G. A. (2019). Patient and visitor aggression in healthcare: a survey exploring organizational safety culture and team efficacy Journal of Nursing Management, 27(5), pp. 1039-1046. Wiley-Blackwell - STM 10.1111/jonm.12772

Text Patient and visitor aggression in healthcare.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (421kB) | Request a copy

Aims: This study investigates nurse managers' perception of organisational safety culture and team efficacy in managing patient and visitor aggression , and determines the predictors of team efficacy. Background: Patient and visitor aggression is a serious hazard in healthcare. A positive organisational safety culture regarding patient and visitor aggression enhances the safety and staff efficacy in managing patient and visitor aggression. Methods: A cross‐sectional online survey including nurse managers in psychiatric and general hospitals (n = 446) was conducted in Switzerland, Austria and Germany (November 2016–February 2017). Data were analysed descriptively and through binary logistic regression. Results: The key results are as follows: “Working in a mental health setting” was 3.5 times more likely, “consideration of the physical environment” was four times more likely and a “shared organisational attitude” was twice as likely to predict high team efficacy. In comparison to psychiatric hospitals, general hospital managers perceived organisational safety cultures to be less positive. Conclusions: A positive organisational safety culture leads to the perception that teams are more effective at managing patient and visitor aggression. Implications for Nursing Management: Consideration of the physical environment and a positive shared organisational attitude regarding patient and visitor aggression are crucial for high team efficacy. General hospitals could benefit from approaches utilized in psychiatry to enhance staff efficacy in managing patient and visitor aggression. KEYWORDS aggression and violence, cross‐sectional studies, general hospital, mental health, nurse manager, psychiatry, safety culture

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	School of Health Professions
Name:	Heckemann, Birgit; Hahn, Sabine0000-0002-2697-2014; Halfens, Ruud J. G.; Richter, Dirk0000-0002-6215-6110 and Schols, Jos M. G. A.
ISSN:	0966-0429
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell - STM
Language:	English
Submitter:	Christoph Golz
Date Deposited:	24 Jan 2020 06:31
Last Modified:	18 Dec 2020 13:29
Publisher DOI:	10.1111/jonm.12772
Additional Information:	Notes: PMID: 30888740 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] Date: 2019
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.10179
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/10179