Clinical trial NCT05224752: Workplace Violence, Hostility & Safety
Official title: Workplace Violence, Hostility & Safety
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: WITHDRAWN
Conditions: Violence
Lead sponsor: Methodist Health System
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2022-02-04
Enrollment: 0
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 100
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: full-time, part-time or PRN \[per diem\] employee of MRMC, who cares for or has contact with patients and visitors.

Brief summary: Workplace violence has been documented as a global, epidemic healthcare- related problem. The American Nurses Association (ANA) describes customer/client violence as an assault from a member of the public with whom the nurse interacts during the course of their regular duties. According to the ANA's website, types of violence that contribute to unsafe work environments are varying. However the customer/client violence type is prevalently experienced in healthcare, and 1 in 4 nurses are abused and experience workplace violence.

Detailed description: Based on anecdotal reports at MRMC, and as a follow up to a 2020 research study, evidence-based practice research council (EBPRC) members and staff asked colleagues about stress-producing events in their scope of work. It was reported that individuals were unclear about available resources and preparation to handle unsafe environments when client/visitor behaviors escalated to aggressive or unsafe situations. The EBPRC members reviewed the MRMC policies related to violence/assault/injury towards MRMC personnel. What remains unclear is if staff are aware of existing policies and are adhering to reporting guidelines pertaining to employee and stakeholder safety. Additionally, based on literature review, the problem of workplace violence perpetrated by patients and visitors is excessive and escalating nationally and internationally. Additionally, at MRMC, the EBPRC acquired documentation of the number of reported assaults, aggressive behavior or violence of stakeholders (patients and visitors) towards healthcare providers that were documented and referred to the MRMC employee health services. From the local hospital's tally, there were 28 cases from January, 10, 2020 to February 4, 2021. Of the 28 cases, seven occurred between February 2, 2021 and February 4, 2021. Hence, it is essential to conduct a study targeting healthcare workers at MRMC to identify opportunities for further intervention that creates a safety-focused, supportive culture.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that employees and employers work together to prevent or abate recognized hazardous and cited workplace areas for concerns and develop a successful safety and health management system especially for Healthcare and Social Services workers.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* must be a full-time, part-time or PRN \[per diem\] employee of MRMC
* who cares for or has contact with patients and visitors
* able to read and understand English

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals who are not full-time, part-time or PRN employees of MRMC who cares for or has contact with patient s and visitors

Primary outcomes:
measure: An investigator-developed questionnaire and demographic tool
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
measure: Education Level
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
measure: Status of service
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
measure: Years of experience at Methodist
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
measure: Job status/title
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
measure: Age
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
measure: Gender
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
measure: Ethnicity
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
measure: Which, if any, items do you consider an act of physical abuse or violence in the workplace
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
measure: Have you ever experienced physical abuse at MRMC that involved a patient/visitor, within the last two years?
timeFrame: from August, 1, 2021 to September 1, 2021
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Richardson
country: United States
facility: Methodist Richardson Medical Center
state: Texas
Study officials:
affiliation: Methodist Health System
name: Maxine Adegbola,, PH.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: