Research Hotspots and Trends in Workplace Violence Among Healthcare Professionals: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis Based on Web of Science.

BACKGROUND

Workplace violence is a significant issue in healthcare settings, affecting the physical and psychological health of healthcare professionals and compromising patient care quality. Despite growing concerns, a comprehensive understanding of the research landscape remains limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to analyze the research hotspots and trends in workplace violence among healthcare professionals through bibliometric and visualization analysis, providing insights into the current state of research and identifying future directions.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search of the Web of Science database from inception to August 10, 2024, identifying relevant studies on workplace violence among healthcare professionals. A total of 937 publications were included for analysis. Bibliometric and visualization analysis software (CiteSpace, VOSviewer, BICOMB, and gCLUTO) were used to analyze authors, affiliations, and keywords, and to visualize research trends and hotspots.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed 9 distinct clusters of research hotspots, including risk factors, affected departments, demographics, and impacts of workplace violence. Key findings indicate that emergency departments and nursing staff are particularly vulnerable, with significant impacts on mental health and job satisfaction. The study also highlights the increasing trend of publications over the years, reflecting growing research interest in this area.

CONCLUSION

The findings reveal that workplace violence is a significant issue affecting the mental and physical health of healthcare professionals, with notable impacts on job satisfaction, patient care quality, and overall organizational climate. Future efforts should focus on strengthening collaborations and developing targeted interventions to mitigate workplace violence, thereby enhancing the safety and quality of healthcare services.