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Measuring the Risk of Violence Through Health Surveillance

Author

Listed:
  • Nicola Magnavita

    (Occupational Epidemiology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy)

  • Igor Meraglia

    (Occupational Epidemiology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy)

  • Giacomo Viti

    (Occupational Epidemiology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy)

  • Martina Gasbarri

    (Health Surveillance Service, Local Healthcare Unit Roma4, 00053 Civitavecchia, Italy)

Abstract

Workplace violence (WV) is a ubiquitous, yet under-reported and under-studied phenomenon. Prevention measures may be ineffective because risk assessment is often based on unvalidated algorithms. After monitoring the risk of WV in a healthcare company for over 20 years, this paper presents the results collected in 2023 and details of the methodology used. Monitoring WV in health surveillance can involve three actions: (1) asking all the workers who attend periodic medical examinations in the workplace whether they have suffered physical aggression, threats, or harassment in the previous year; (2) investigating WV at the end of workplace inspections by setting up participatory ergonomics groups (PEGs) to suggest solutions; (3) investigating the characteristics and consequences of WV through anonymous online questionnaires. In 2023, 6.9% of the healthcare workers (HCWs) reported having experienced one or more physical attacks during the previous year; 12.7% reported having been threatened, and 12.9% reported other types of violent, harassing behavior. The HCWs observed an increase in violence after the pandemic years and, in the PEGs, suggested using different preventive measures in different health departments. The online survey provided further information on the characteristics of WV and its consequences. The risk of WV can be effectively characterized and measured through health surveillance.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola Magnavita & Igor Meraglia & Giacomo Viti & Martina Gasbarri, 2024. "Measuring the Risk of Violence Through Health Surveillance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-23, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:12:p:1708-:d:1549924
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicola Magnavita & Igor Meraglia & Giacomo Viti & Martina Gasbarri, 2024. "Tracking Workplace Violence over 20 Years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(11), pages 1-21, October.
    2. Yi-Lu Li & Rui-Qi Li & Dan Qiu & Shui-Yuan Xiao, 2020. "Prevalence of Workplace Physical Violence against Health Care Professionals by Patients and Visitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Nicola Magnavita & Paolo Maurizio Soave & Massimo Antonelli, 2022. "Treating Anti-Vax Patients, a New Occupational Stressor—Data from the 4th Wave of the Prospective Study of Intensivists and COVID-19 (PSIC)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-13, May.
    4. Reparata Rosa Di Prinzio & Giorgia Bondanini & Federica De Falco & Maria Rosaria Vinci & Vincenzo Camisa & Annapaola Santoro & Marcello De Santis & Massimiliano Raponi & Guendalina Dalmasso & Salvator, 2022. "The Management of Workplace Violence against Healthcare Workers: A Multidisciplinary Team for Total Worker Health ® Approach in a Hospital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Nicola Magnavita, 2023. "Workplace Health Promotion Embedded in Medical Surveillance: The Italian Way to Total Worker Health Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.
    6. Sullivan, C. & Yuan, C., 1995. "Workplace assaults on minority health and mental health care workers in Los Angeles," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 85(7), pages 1011-1014.
    7. Francesco Chirico & Tarja Heponiemi & Milena Pavlova & Salvatore Zaffina & Nicola Magnavita, 2019. "Psychosocial Risk Prevention in a Global Occupational Health Perspective. A Descriptive Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-14, July.
    8. Samma Faiz Rasool & Mansi Wang & Yanping Zhang & Madeeha Samma, 2020. "Sustainable Work Performance: The Roles of Workplace Violence and Occupational Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-12, February.
    9. Nicola Magnavita, 2018. "Medical Surveillance, Continuous Health Promotion and a Participatory Intervention in a Small Company," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, April.
    10. Daniela Acquadro Maran & Davide Minniti & Michele Presutti & Marta Alesina & Adelina Brizio & Paola Gatti, 2023. "Workplace Bullying among Healthcare Professionals: A Quanti-Qualitative Survey in a Sample of Women Working in an Italian Healthcare Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-13, May.
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