Region based study on incidence rate of patients' violence toward nurse, nursing support workers, and clerk

Background/Purpose: This study investigated the incidence rate per working hours and the risk factors of violence toward nurses and nursing support workers, and clerks. Method: Potential subjects of the present study were all nurses, nursing support workers, and clerks working at clinics and hospitals in Nara prefecture, Japan. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was sent to all the potential subjects in September 2008. The questionnaire asked total working hours, and the number of violent events committed by patients and their associates in the previous year according to the following categories:1) verbal-sexual harassment, 2) sexual abuse, 3) slander without facing, 4) stalking, 5) verbal abuse, 6) property damage, 7) threat with weapon, 8) physical violence. Adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRRadj) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were obtained by multivariate Poisson regression model. Results: Of 15,122 potential subjects, we received completed answers from 10,904 health workers (6,987 nurses, 1,663 nursing-support workers, and 2,254 clerks) for analysis (72.1%). Incidence rates per 1,000 person-working hours were 0.76, 1.01, and 0.35, respectively, in nurse, nursing support workers, and clerks. IRRadj in nurses significantly increased in younger worker (<50), female, facility over 500 beds, specialty of psychiatry, brain surgery and internal medicine. In nursing-support workers, IRRadj increased in younger workers, female, workers on night shift, full time workers, facility over 500 beds, specialty of psychiatry and brain surgery. IRRadj in clerks increased in those aged 30-39, male, workers with night shift, part time workers, and those who working at facility over 500 beds.