To describe the prevalence and determinants of workplace violence against nurses in the Italian home care setting.
Secondary cross-sectional analysis of data from the multicentre study AIDOMUS-IT.
Nurses employed in home care services provided by Italian Local Health Authorities were interviewed using a variety of instruments. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was performed to model the risk of workplace violence against nurses in the last 12 months. Variables related to violence were selected among sociodemographic characteristics (such as age and gender), work-related factors (including years of experience, team composition, overtime working, previous experience in mental health care, burnout) and organisational elements (including leadership and support, workload, staffing and resources adequacy, and time to reach the patients' homes). Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were used to present the results.
A total of 3949 nurses participated in the study and 20.49% of them reported to have experienced an episode of violence in the last 12 months. Determinants of higher risk of violence episodes were younger age (aOR = 1.02, p = 0.002), higher workload (aOR = 1.01, p = 0.002), working in a multiprofessional team (aOR = 1.24, p = 0.018), perception of inadequate managerial leadership and support (aOR = 1.38, p = 0.003), and higher burnout levels (aOR = 1.01, p < 0.001).
The prevalence of workplace violence against Italian home care nurses is high. Several modifiable determinants were found to be associated with a higher risk of violence, which can potentially be mitigated with tailored interventions.
Effective preventive strategies must be developed to lessen workplace violence against nurses in the home care setting. These strategies should focus on strengthening nursing managers' leadership and support skills, enhancing team-building strategies, avoiding inadequate workload, monitoring nurses' burnout, estimating optimum staffing levels, and assigning advanced-career nurses to home care services. These measures are imperative to guarantee the quality and safety of home care organisations and to attain favourable outcomes in the provision of care.
This study aimed to explore the prevalence and determinants of workplace violence against nurses in the Italian home care settings. We found that out of the 3949 nurses surveyed, 20% of the sample reported one episode of violence during the last 12 months. Determinants of this violence included younger age, higher workload and burnout, being in a multiprofessional team, and perception of lack of leadership and support by the nurse manager. The results of this study can be used to tailor interventions aimed at mitigating the risk factors of violence, particularly those that can be modified (e.g., workload, burnout, and leadership).
The study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.
No patient or public contribution.
Nurses' job satisfaction in hospitals is fundamental for the quality of care and the safety of patients. However, sociodemographic trends require moving care to patients' homes, and the predictors of job satisfaction for nurses working in the home care settings remain largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate job satisfaction of nurses working in Italian home care settings and its determinants.
Multicenter observational cross-sectional study.
This study was conducted in the districts of 70 local health authorities in Italy. Data on the characteristics of the organization and nurses were collected. Nursing job satisfaction was evaluated on a four-point scale ranging from “very satisfied” to “very dissatisfied.” Additionally, the following variables were assessed: workload, quality of leadership, work–private life conflict, burnout symptoms, possibility for development, staffing and resource adequacy, nurse manager ability, safety climate, and teamwork climate. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors influencing job satisfaction.
Only organizational variables had a predictive value for nurses' job satisfaction. Workload (OR = 1.01; p = 0.033), work–private life conflict (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001), burnout (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001), and staffing inadequacy (OR = 1.44; p = 0.003) predicted higher levels of nurse dissatisfaction. Instead, high-quality leadership (OR = 0.981; p < 0.001), possibility for development (OR = 0.973; p < 0.001), and good teamwork climate (OR = 0.994; p = 0.003) were predictors of better levels of satisfaction.
This study suggested that home care nurses are generally satisfied with their jobs. To enhance job satisfaction, it is essential to improve nurses' work environment, the leadership quality and ensure professional development.
Our results are globally relevant as they contribute to the limited evidence available on this topic in home care settings. This study emphasizes the need of measuring nurses' job satisfaction and implementing interventions to promote healthy work environments.
The uptake of research evidence on staffing issues in nursing by nursing leadership, management and into organizational policies seems to vary across Europe. This study wants to assess this uptake of research evidence.
Scoping survey.
The presidents of twelve country specific Sigma Chapters within the European Region answered written survey questions about work organisation, national staffing levels, national skill mix levels, staff characteristics, and education.
Seven of the 12 chapters could not return complete data, reported that data was unavailable, there was no national policy or only guidance related to some settings.
Enhancing the awareness of nursing research and of nursing leaders and managers regarding staffing level evidence is not enough. It seems necessary to encourage nurse leaders to lobby for staffing policies.
Research evidence on staffing issues in nursing and how it benefits health care is available. In Europe this evidence should be used more to lobby for change in staffing policies.