Investigating Management and Perceptions of Aggression, Conflict, and Threat in ICU Environments
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 308
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Demographic information (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to investigate the perceptions, experiences, and responses of healthcare professionals working in intensive care units in Switzerland concerning patient violence.
Detailed Description
Workplace violence, as defined by the International Labor Organization, includes any action, incident, or behavior that assaults, threatens, harms, or injures a person during their work. Healthcare workers face the highest risk of workplace violence among all professions. Violence can take many forms, including verbal abuse, physical offenses to sexual harassment. While most research focuses on psychiatric and emergency departments, workplace violence in intensive care units (ICUs) is understudied and often underreported. As a result, little is known about its prevalence and risk factors, leading to a lack of awareness and effective prevention strategies.
This study examines the perceptions, experiences, and responses of healthcare professionals in Swiss ICUs. A questionnaire-based survey will assess various aspects, including personal background (such as education and professional role), the frequency and nature of past incidents of workplace violence, responses and measures taken, psychological or professional consequences, current prevention strategies, and suggestions for improving workplace safety.
Since workplace violence is a common issue, the results of this study could help improve the work environment and safety in ICUs and other healthcare settings.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Observational
- Observational Model
- Other
- Time Perspective
- Prospective
Eligibility Criteria
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Consenting nurses and physicians currently working in Swiss intensive care units
- •Nurses and physicians consenting to participate will be included
Exclusion Criteria
- •Nurses and physicians who do not consent
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Demographic information (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants provide demographic details, including gender and age, using a questionnaire.
Completion date (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
The date of questionnaire completion is recorded.
Professional background (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Assessment of professional role of the intensive care unit (ICU) staff, including their education and work experience, using a questionnaire.
Frequency of violent incident (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants report the frequency of violent incidents encountered from patients or their relatives in the ICU setting, using a questionnaire.
Type of violent incident (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants report the type of violent incidents (verbal, physical, and sexual) encountered from patients or their relatives in the ICU setting, using a questionnaire.
Characteristics of violent incident (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants provide detailed information about specific violent incidents they have experienced in the ICU, including the context and perceived triggers, using a questionnaire.
Reporting of violent incident (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants report whether the violent incident has been reported, using a questionnaire.
Personal impact of workplace violence (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants describe the personal impact of workplace violence, including psychological and mental health consequences, using a questionnaire.
Professional impact of workplace violence (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants report how workplace violence influences professional factors such as job satisfaction and workload, using a questionnaire.
Actions taken during or after violent incident (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants report the responses and measures taken during or after the violent incident, using a questionnaire.
Strategies for enhancing workplace safety in the ICU (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants provide information on strategies for enhancing workplace safety in the ICU, such as existing institutional policies, prior training in handling workplace violence, and their opinions on workplace violence prevention and recommendations for enhancing ICU safety, using a questionnaire.
Open-ended feedback from participant (ICU Staff Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 2025
Participants have the opportunity to share additional comments or remarks related to workplace violence and safety in the ICU, using a questionnaire. This information is collected through a freetext field in the questionnaire.
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported