Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Asl3 Healthcare System of the Liguria Region, Genoa, Italy.
J Prev Med Hyg. 2024 Aug 31;65(2):E256-E264. doi: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2024.65.2.3143. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Violence against healthcare workers is an escalating public health concern, affecting the quality of care, and causing significant psychological and physical effects on healthcare professionals. This study analysed the trend in aggressions in healthcare settings in the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods.
An observational descriptive study was conducted to analyse reports of violence against healthcare workers from January 2018 to June 2023 at a Local Health Authority "ASL3" in the Liguria region of Italy. The study considered variables such as the severity of aggression, professional category involved, and location of incident. Episodes of violence were classified according to severity by means of a colour-coded system. We used multinomial logistic regression to examine any associations between the pandemic phase and the various factors, while controlling for relevant variables.
The number of reported aggressions rose from 48 in 2018 to 90 in 2022, with a partial count of 35 in the first half of 2023. The pandemic phase saw a rise in incidents classified as Green codes, which accounted for 58.3%, and a significant involvement of District Services. The post-pandemic phase showed a reversion to pre-pandemic levels but with an increase in Yellow codes (5.6%). Nurses were the most frequent victims, with figures ranging from 50.8% to 95.6% over the years. The Emergency Department and Psychiatric Services emerged as the most critical settings of aggressions, with incidents recorded in these areas constituting over half of the total number. However, an increase in violence was also recorded in district healthcare settings during the post-pandemic phase.
There is an urgent need for comprehensive strategies for the prevention of violence in healthcare settings. The increasing trend in violence, especially during the pandemic, necessitates integrated approaches that encompass training, psychological support, security policies, and a strong organizational culture to promote safety and respect. Protecting healthcare workers is crucial to their wellbeing and the quality of healthcare delivery.
针对医疗工作者的暴力行为是日益严重的公共卫生问题，它会影响医疗质量，并对医疗专业人员造成重大的心理和生理影响。本研究分析了在大流行前、大流行期间和大流行后医疗环境中攻击行为的趋势。
本研究为观察性描述性研究，分析了 2018 年 1 月至 2023 年 6 月期间，意大利利古里亚地区当地卫生局“ASL3”内报告的针对医疗工作者的暴力事件。研究考虑了攻击行为的严重程度、涉及的职业类别和事件发生地点等变量。根据严重程度，使用颜色编码系统对暴力事件进行分类。我们使用多项逻辑回归来检查大流行阶段与各种因素之间的关联，同时控制相关变量。
报告的攻击事件数量从 2018 年的 48 起上升到 2022 年的 90 起，2023 年上半年的部分计数为 35 起。大流行阶段，绿色代码事件数量增加，占 58.3%，且主要涉及地区服务。大流行后阶段，情况恢复到大流行前水平，但黄色代码事件增加（5.6%）。多年来，护士一直是最常见的受害者，比例从 50.8%到 95.6%不等。急诊室和精神科服务是攻击事件最严重的地方，这些区域的事件记录占总数的一半以上。然而，在后大流行阶段，地区医疗保健环境中的暴力事件也有所增加。
迫切需要制定全面的医疗环境中暴力预防策略。暴力行为呈上升趋势，特别是在大流行期间，需要采取综合方法，包括培训、心理支持、安全政策和强大的组织文化，以促进安全和尊重。保护医疗工作者对于他们的健康和医疗服务质量至关重要。
