Prevalence, influencing factors and adverse consequences of workplace violence against nurses in China: A cross-sectional study

Aims The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of workplace violence among nurses in China and its association with demographic characteristics, quality of work life and coping styles. The secondary objective was to explore how nurses deal with workplace violence and the emotional/psychological impact of workplace violence on nurses. Background Workplace violence is a common occupational hazard that causes physical and psychological harm to nurses. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2769 nurses from China. A demographic information questionnaire, hospital workplace violence questionnaire, Chinese version of the work-related quality of life scale and coping style scale were used in this study. The Chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the effects of demographic characteristics, quality of work life and coping styles on nurses' workplace violence. Results A total of 49.12% of the nurses (n = 1360) had experienced at least one type of workplace violence in the past 6 months. Night shifts, work department, chronic diseases (odds ratio [OR] = 1.53, p < .001), sleep disorders (OR = 1.54, p < .001), frequent overtime (OR = 1.78, p < .001), adverse nursing events (OR = 2.01, p < .001) and passive coping (OR = 1.47, p < .001) were risk factors for workplace violence. Working conditions (OR = 0.61, p < .001), general well-being (OR = 0.65, p < .001) and positive coping (OR = 0.76, p < .001) were identified as protective factors for workplace violence. Nurses exposed to workplace violence experience various negative emotional and psychological consequences. Conclusions Workplace violence is common among nurses in China. Good working conditions, general well-being and positive coping may help prevent workplace violence injuries. Implications for nursing management Efforts should be made to improve and optimize existing workplace violence prevention measures, create and maintain a good working environment for health care workers and develop various coping styles or strategies to manage stress to reduce workplace violence. The cross-sectional study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, with the registration number 2019-221-2. Written informed consent was obtained prior to the survey.