Prevalence and Forms of Workplace Bullying Among Health-care Professionals in Cyprus: Greek Version of "Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror" Instrument

Perpetrators of gender-based workplace violence amongst nurses and physicians-A scoping review of the literature

In healthcare settings worldwide, workplace violence (WPV) has been extensively studied. However, significantly less is known about gender-based WPV and the characteristics of perpetrators. We conducted a comprehensive scoping review on Type II (directed by consumers) and Type III (perpetuated by healthcare workers) gender based-WPV among nurses and physicians globally. For the review, we followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta Analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR). The protocol for the comprehensive review was registered on the Open Science Framework on January 14, 2022, at https://osf.io/t4pfb/. A systematic search in five health and social science databases yielded 178 relevant studies that indicated types of perpetrators, with only 34 providing descriptive data for perpetrators' gender. Across both types of WPV, men (65.1%) were more frequently responsible for perpetuating WPV compared to women (28.2%) and both genders (6.7%). Type II WPV, demonstrated a higher incidence of violence against women; linked to the gendered roles, stereotypes, and societal expectations that allocate specific responsibilities based on gender. Type III WPV was further categorized into Type III-A (horizontal) and Type III-B (vertical). With Type III WPV, gendered power structures and stereotypes contributed to a permissive environment for violence by men and women that victimized more women. These revelations emphasize the pressing need for gender-sensitive strategies for addressing WPV within the healthcare sector. Policymakers must prioritize the security of healthcare workers, especially women, through reforms and zero-tolerance policies. Promoting gender equality and empowerment within the workforce and leadership is pivotal. Additionally, creating a culture of inclusivity, support, and respect, led by senior leadership, acknowledging WPV as a structural issue and enabling an open dialogue across all levels are essential for combating this pervasive problem.

A gender-based review of workplace violence amongst the global health workforce-A scoping review of the literature

Workplace violence (WPV) impacts all levels of the health workforce, including the individual provider, organization, and society. While there is a substantial body of literature on various aspects of WPV against the health workforce, gender-based WPV (GB-WPV) has received less attention. Violence in both the workplace and broader society is rooted in gendered socio-economic, cultural, and institutional factors. Developing a robust understanding of GB-WPV is crucial to explore the differing experiences, responses, and outcomes of GB-WPV with respect to gender. We conducted a scoping review and report on the prevalence and risk factors of GB-WPV in healthcare settings globally. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We registered the scoping review protocol on the Open Science Framework on January 14, 2022, at https://osf.io/t4pfb/. A systematic search was conducted of empirical literature in five health and social science databases. Of 13667, 226 studies were included in the analysis. Across the studies, more women than men experienced non-physical violence, including verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and bullying. Men experienced more physical violence compared to women. Younger age, less experience, shifting duties, specific clinical settings, lower professional status, organizational hierarchy, and minority status were found to be sensitive to gender, reflecting women's structural disadvantages in the workplace. Given the high prevalence and impact of GB-WPV on women, we provided recommendations to address systemic issues in clinical practice, academia, policy, and research.

Blaming the young is always more accessible rather than accusing the older employees: an experimental view over age and health in organizations

Introduction

The stereotype content model postulates that different groups evoke different emotions and reactions based on two dimensions: intention toward others (warmth) and competence.

Methods

In this study, we used an experimental design and a qualitative approach to investigate how managerial strategies are selected and motivated when a subordinate makes a work task related error but belongs to a group that is stereotypical perceived differently in terms of warmth and competence (age groups with or without a medical condition). Thus 75 employees analyzed one of the five hypothetical cases and described the managerial strategy and motivation for usage.

Results

Data revealed that managerial strategies incorporate more active harm elements for younger employees in contrast with vulnerable groups (older employees with unspecified medical conditions, younger or older employees with a medical condition), who benefit from more active facilitation strategies. The strategy usage motivation is also different in the case of younger employees, the control group and the vulnerable groups.

Discussion

The study outcomes bring additional evidence to support the stereotype content model theory and the socioemotional selectivity theory, enriching applicability on organizational practice and human resources management.

The effect of mobbing on the development of depression in anesthesia workers: A prospective, multicenter, observational study

BACKGROUND

Mobbing in the workplace is a critical problem affecting healthcare workers' psychological health and performance. However, there is a lack of data on the relationship between mobbing and depression and a lack of regulations to create a decent working environment.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the frequency of exposure to mobbing and the depression levels that may be related to mobbing among the employees of the Anesthesiology and Reanimation Clinic.

METHODS

In this multi-center cross-sectional study, employees were evaluated with Leymann's Inventory of Psychological Terror scale and the Beck Depression Inventory.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 86.2% stated that they were exposed to mobbing. The presence of mobbing was also associated with the presence of psychological and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of mobbing was relatively high among Anesthesiology and Reanimation clinic employees. Mobbing exposure was found to be associated with a high level of depression. Institutional and legal precautions should be taken, and awareness of mobbing should be increased to eliminate mobbing and its consequences on healthcare workers.

How are witnessed workplace bullying and bystander roles related to perceived care quality, work engagement, and turnover intentions in the healthcare sector? A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Workplace bullying is widespread in the healthcare sector and the negative effects are well known. However, less attention has been paid to bystanders who witness bullying in the workplace. Bystanders can affect the bullying process by engaging in active, passive, or destructive behaviors. There is a need to study work-related and organizational consequences of witnessing bullying and bystander behaviors.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to explore how witnessed workplace bullying and bystander behaviors are associated with work-related and organizational consequences, such as perceived quality of care, work engagement, and turnover intentions, among healthcare workers over time.

DESIGN

Longitudinal design. An online questionnaire was administered twice over the course of six months.

SETTING(S)

Employees in the healthcare sector in Sweden, such as physicians, nurses, and assistant nurses, responded to the questionnaire.

PARTICIPANTS

1144 participants provided longitudinal data.

METHODS

Structural equation modeling was used to explore the associations between witnessed bullying, bystander behavior, work-related and organizational factors over time.

RESULTS

Witnessed workplace bullying (B = -0.18, 95 % CI [-0.23 to -0.12]) and the bystander outsider role (B = -0.24, 95 % CI [-0.29 to -0.19]) were statistically significantly related to a decrease in perceived quality of care. Work engagement was statistically significantly predicted by all three bystander roles over time; positively by the defender role (B = 0.11, 95 % CI [0.05-0.17]), and negatively by the outsider role (B = -0.23, 95 % CI [-0.29 to -0.16]), and the assistant role (B = -0.32, 95 % CI [-0.41 to -0.24]). The outsider role (B = 0.12, 95 % CI [0.02-0.22]), the assistant role (B = 0.17, 95 % CI [0.03-0.30]), and witnessed workplace bullying (B = 0.18, 95 % CI [0.08-0.29]), all positively predicted increased turnover intentions at a subsequent time point.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to the direct negative impact workplace bullying has on those targeted by it, witnessing bullying and taking different bystander roles can have work-related and organizational consequences by influencing perceived care quality, employees' work engagement, and their intention to leave the organization.

Workplace mobbing, group cohesion and intraindividual variables in nurses from a rural hospital in Northern Greece: A correlation study

BACKGROUND

High levels of mobbing are reported in Greek nurses, but the intraindividual and perceived group emotional correlates are little investigated.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between workplace mobbing (specifically in the nursing sector of a public rural hospital in Greece) and emotional correlates.

METHODS

Questionnaires measuring emotional aspects such as Negative Act Questionnaire - Revised (NAQ-R) for measuring perceived exposure to bullying and victimization at work, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Overall Job Satisfaction Scale (OJS), Job Affect Scale (JAS: positive and negative subscales), Perceived Cohesion Scale (PCS), Ethical Climate Questionnaire (ECQ), and Short General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were administered. For the analysis of the data, descriptive and parametric tests were performed through the Pearson correlations and regression for the relationship between variables.

RESULTS

High mobbing levels were reported (M = 45.93) compared to already established cutoff scores. Statistically significant positive correlations were found for NAQ-R and MBI (Exhaustion subscale) (r = .569, p < .001), NAQ-R and JAS-negative affect (r = .610, p < .001), NAQ-R and GHQ-12 (r = .280, p = .002), and NAQ-R andeducational level (r = .196, p = .033). Statistically significant negative correlations were found for NAQ-R and ECQ (r = -.323, p < .001), NAQ-R and JAS-positive affect (r = -.556, p < .001), and NAQ-R and PCS (r = -.586, p < .001). Only burnout,negative affect, and perceived group cohesion predicted mobbing measured by NAQ- R.

CONCLUSION

As mobbing and its consequences are related to specific emotional variables, these perceived individual and group indices, could be targeted in future prevention initiatives.

Investigating Mobbing Syndrome's Incidence in the Working Environment of a Public and a Private Greek Hospital

To investigate the phenomenon of moral harassment (mobbing) as well as the effect of demographic and occupational characteristics of healthcare professionals working in a public provincial general hospital and a private hospital in Athens a cross-sectional survey was designed. The study was conducted from November to December 2021 through the application of the Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror (LIPT) a widely recognized research tool for the quantitative investigation of ethical harassment in the workplace. 264 fully completed questionnaires were collected out of the 300 that were distributed in both hospitals (response rates: 92% for the public hospital and 83.3% for the private). It was observed that private hospital's employees were morally harassed to a greater extent and for a longer time than the employees of a public hospital. The levels of moral harassment were quite high, indicating the necessity of thorough audit by the management in both hospitals.

The evaluation of mobbing cases in the healthcare sector based on Supreme Court case law in Turkey

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine mobbing in the health sector based on the Supreme Court case law.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The data were accessed on the website of the Supreme Court. Searches were made using mobbing and health-related keywords and filters. As a result, 43 lawsuits were included.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the cases occurred in private hospitals. Hospital managers were accused of mobbing in 88% of cases. In 30% of cases, nurses were plaintiffs. Also, 45% of cases involved an attack on the occupational situation of employees.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

It is important to develop policies specific to mobbing behavior in the workplace at the macro level and to consider legislation and management monitoring by health managers and especially nurse managers at the micro level.

Does bullying in the hospital affect the health-related quality of life of health professionals?

BACKGROUND: This study investigates workplace harassment among Greek NHS employees and its impact on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we highlight that the consequences of workplace harassment and the concomitant damaged satisfaction can negatively affect health-related quality of life in Public Hospitals. METHODS: A sample of 343 employees from five Athens-based hospitals, including doctors, nurses, administrative and technical personnel, completed the Greek versions of the Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terrorization (LIPT) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Multiple logistic regression identified factors associated with mobbing, and adjusted odds ratios were computed. RESULTS: Out of the 37.5% of the employees who reported experiencing mobbing, 22.7% were bullied daily, and 49.2% almost daily. Furthermore, 66.7% were bullied by colleagues of the same grade, while 58.7% were from superiors. Regarding HRQoL, all SF-36 dimension scores were significantly lower (p < 0.001) for the mobbing victims, compared to others not having suffered workplace harassment. CONCLUSION: The existence of mobbing in the Greek NHS is evident, and that harms health. Preventing workplace harassment should be high on policymakers’ agendas to improve human resource management and health system performance.

Psychometric qualities of measurement tools used to determine workplace horizontal violence: A rapid review

RATIONALE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Horizontal violence has been defined as aggressive or hostile behaviour directed at an individual or between colleagues from the same working group. Measuring the prevalence of horizontal violence requires valid measures. To date, there has not been a review of the psychometric properties of available measurement tools for horizontal violence.

METHOD

A rapid review of the MEDLINE and BUSINESS EBSCO databases was conducted to identify studies testing the validity of any measure of horizontal violence in any workplace setting. Title and abstract and full-text screening, data extraction and quality appraisal were completed by two researchers working independently. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) was used to determine the methodological quality of studies, including details of the psychometric properties of included papers.

RESULTS

Fourteen papers reporting 17 studies were included in the review. Seven measures of horizontal violence (Civility Norms Questionnaire Brief; Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised; Inventory of Violence and Psychological Harassment; Leyman Inventory Psychological Terror Mobbing of Single Cases of Harassment in Employees Relations; Shortened Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised; Uncivil Workplace Behaviour Questionnaire) were identified. Most included studies were methodologically robust. Six measures had strong psychometric properties except for the Mobbing of Single Cases of Harassment in Employees Relations (MSCH) where key information about psychometric properties was not reported.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified six measures of horizontal violence that had good psychometric properties. The Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised has been most extensively tested in different settings but is not necessarily a more precise measure than others.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Burnout and Bullying among Newly Graduated Nurses but Did Not Impact the Relationship between Burnout and Bullying and Self-Labelled Subjective Feeling of Being Bullied: A Cross-Sectional, Comparative Study

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic posed a great challenge to health care systems worldwide. Health care personnel, including nurses, work under high pressure and are overworked and overwhelmed, which results in a higher prevalence of burnout and workplace bullying, which further increases the intention to leave the nursing profession. (2) Methods: A comparative correlational and cross-sectional study design was adopted, and an online questionnaire was used to collect data between October 2019 and October 2021. Two hundred and fifty-seven newly graduated nurses participated in this study. The studied variable was measured using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, the Negative Acts Questionnaire, and metrics developed by the authors. (3) Results: The prevalence of bullying and burnout is significantly higher among nurses who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic than among those who worked before the pandemic, but the pandemic has not had an impact on the level of the subjective assessment of bullying. Working as a newly graduated nurse before or during the COVID-19 pandemic is a moderator between person-related bullying and its dimensions and disengagement. (4) Conclusions: Pandemics increase bullying and burnout among newly graduated nurses; however, the current challenges have caused some of this to remain unrevealed, the repercussions of which will appear with double strength later.

Workplace Bullying and Its Associated Factors Among Medical Doctors in Residency Training in a Tertiary Health Institution in Plateau State Nigeria

Background

Bullying is public health problem globally in workplaces with untold deleterious effects on the health and well-being of individuals at the receiving end. Bullying has been found to disrupt social interaction at workplace thereby creating an unhealthy and seemingly unproductive work environment. Studies have reported varying rates of workplace bullying as high as 83% in Europe, 65% in the Americas and 55% in Asia with very little documented in the contemporary African setting and Nigeria in particular. It therefore became imperative to assess the level of bullying and its associated factors among medical doctors in residency training in a tertiary health institution in Plateau state Nigeria.

Methodology

This was a cross sectional study conducted among resident doctors in Jos University Teaching Hospital between November 2019 and February 2020 using quantitative method of data collection and SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Crude and adjusted odds ratios as well as 95% confidence interval were used in this study with a p-value of ≤0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results

The mean age of the respondents was 32.3 ± 3.9 years with 78 (62.9%) being 31 years and above. Bullying was currently being experienced by 74 (59.7%) of the respondents with verbal aggression and threats as well as insult and use of derogatory remarks being the forms of bullying experienced by 85.1 and 74.3% of the respondents, respectively. Furthermore, witnessing a colleague being bullied was the sole factor found to be significantly associated with workplace bullying (AOR = 0.18; 95% CI = 0.068–0.449; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Workplace bullying has been found to be in existence and relatively high among medical doctors in residency training in this setting with witnessing someone being bullied as its sole associated factor.

Workplace bullying, occupational burnout, work-life imbalance and perceived medical errors among nurses in Oman: A cluster analysis

AIM

To explore whether different profiles exist in a cohort of nurses regarding demographic and occupational outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Nurses will face many occupational problems, including workplace bullying, work-life imbalance, burnout and medical errors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study included 232 nurses working in a hospital in Oman. Data were collected from December 2018 to April 2019 using convenience sampling. Instruments included work-life balance questions, the Negative Acts questionnaire-revised questionnaire, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index. Cluster analysis, t test, chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Cluster 1 (n = 108) was characterized as 'low-risk on medical error, burnout and workplace bullying but high-risk in work-life imbalance' group. Cluster 2 (n = 124) was labelled as 'high-risk on medical error, work-life imbalance, burnout and workplace buying' group.

CONCLUSIONS

Two groups of nurses in Oman are facing occupational problems differently. Nurses in Cluster 1 need attention to work-life imbalance. However, nurses in Cluster 2 need attention on all occupational problems.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Findings call on the nursing stakeholders in Oman to identify factors related to occupational problems, to provide consultation services to reduce inter-personnel conflicts, and to review nurses' working hours to avoid burnout and resume a balanced work-life.

Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror Scale: Development and Validation for Portuguese Accounting Professionals

This research aims to adapt the Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror and its use on Portuguese Accounting Professionals. Leymann scale was applied in a final sample of 478 accountants aged between 28 and 68, of which 47.5% were men and 52.5% women. We used a quantitative methodology by applying a questionnaire survey whose results were, in the following research phase, analyzed using the statistical packages SPSS 26 and AMOS 27. We used SPSS 26 for the Descriptive Statistical Analysis and AMOS 27 to estimate the structural equation model that validated the scale. After the scale had been adapted and changed, it was validated in psychometric terms to be applied to and used in studies involving this type of professionals. The Accountants Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror that resulted from adapting the original model was tested using structural equation modelling. Thus, the new scale produced significant results similar to those of the original scale, which means that it is valid and can be applied to other contexts. The validity and statistical reliability of the new scale made it possible to measure mobbing problems among accounting professionals reliably and robustly. The present research is an important contribution to the literature. Although it has been applied in several contexts, it is the first time it is being developed, adapted, and validated for accounting professionals who work in this area of management.

Identification of Workplace Bullying: Reliability and Validity of Indonesian Version of the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R)

Bullying can pose a risk to health and safety, including the risk for damage to the emotional, psychosocial, mental, or physical health of employees in the workplace. Since bullying has a detrimental impact on victims and organizations, several studies on this issue had been conducted using the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R), which is one of the most widely used tools to assess and minimize the occurrence of workplace bullying. However, this tool has not been validated for the Indonesian contexts. In this study, the author tested the reliability and constructed validity of the Indonesian version of NAQ-R. A total of 3140 participants were recruited in this study from various companies from different industries. NAQ-R, Psychosocial Distress (K10), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were administrated through an online survey. The results showed that 22 items yielded three model factors, i.e., person-related bullying, work-related bullying, and intimidation towards a person. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the total and sub-scales of the Indonesian NAQ-R was acceptable, ranging from 0.721 to 0.897. This study confirmed that the Indonesian version of NAQ-R has an internal consistency reliability, and the concurrent and construct validity are at acceptable levels. Thus, this tool can be used as the screening instrument in assessing workplace bullying.

Association Between Workplace Bullying Occurrence and Trauma Symptoms Among Healthcare Professionals in Cyprus

Workplace bullying/mobbing is an extreme work-related stressor, but also a severe hazard for physical, mental and psychological health in healthcare employees, including nurses. A range of trauma-related symptoms has been linked with bullying victimization. The aim of the study was the investigation of workplace bullying/mobbing-related trauma symptoms in Greek-Cypriot nurses working in emergency and critical care settings, as well as of potential correlations with demographic and occupational variables. A descriptive, cross-sectional correlational study was performed in a convenience sample of 113 nurses. A modified version of the Part B.CII of The Workplace Violence in the Health Sector-Country Case Studies Research Instrument (WVHS-CCSRI Part C.II-M) and the modified Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS-M) were used for the assessment of bullying/mobbing frequency and workplace bullying/mobbing-related trauma symptoms, respectively. A total of 46.9% of the sample reported experiences of both bullying/mobbing victimization and witnessing of bullying/mobbing to others (VWB subgroup), 21.2% reported solely bullying/mobbing victimization (SVB subgroup) and 10.6% reported witnessing of bullying/mobbing to others (SWB subgroup). A total of 22.3% did not experience or witness any bullying/mobbing at the workplace. Trauma symptoms intensity (STSS-M total score) was more severe in the participants a) with a high frequency of workplace bullying/mobbing experiences compared to those with a moderate frequency of such experiences (p = 0.018), b) of the VWB subgroup compared to those of the SWB subgroup (p = 0.019), c) employed in Emergency Departments compared to those employed in ICUs (p = 0.03), d) who had considered resigning due to bullying/mobbing experiences compared to those who had never considered resigning (p = 0.008), e) who had been punished for reporting a bullying/mobbing incident compared to those who had not (p = 0.001), and f) who considered the incident unimportant to be reported compared to those who avoided reporting due to other causes (p = 0.048). This data highlights the need to establish effective and safe procedures for bullying/mobbing reporting, aiming to support bulling/mobbing victims and witnesses, and further to protect their legal rights. Both victims and witnesses of workplace bullying/mobbing need to be assessed by mental health professionals for PTSD symptoms in order to have access to effective treatment.

Factors Determining Work Arduousness Levels among Nurses: Using the Example of Surgical, Medical Treatment, and Emergency Wards

Introduction

Staff shortages among nurses have been severely felt in most countries around the world for many years. In Poland, this problem is particularly visible due to the lowest nursing employment rate per 1000 inhabitants among 28 EU states and the high rate of leaving the profession. The average age of Polish nurses has been constantly growing for several years—in 2016 it was 50.79, while in 2008 it was 44.19. These data confirm that young nurses are the first to leave the profession. Diagnosis of the working conditions and psychosocial burden level among nurses should be subject to detailed analysis, so that leaving the profession will not additionally deepen the difficult staffing situation in health care.

Aim

The aim of the study was to identify factors affecting the assessment of work arduousness levels among nursing personnel.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted among 573 nurses working on surgical, medical treatment, and emergency wards. A standardized job evaluation questionnaire was used to conduct the survey.

Results

(1) Stress levels depended on the ward in which the surveyed person worked. Nurses working in the emergency ward assessed their conditions the best, with the lowest stress. The average general result in this group was 38.1 points versus 46 and 45.7 points in the surgical and medical treatment wards, respectively. (2) At the level of the whole studied group, both the nurses' age and work experience did not differ statistically significantly in the total assessment of working conditions. Differences in the assessment of work arduousness in different age categories occurred at the level of individual wards. In the surgical ward, younger employees were characterized by higher stress levels, especially in the area of arduousness (p=0.0165). In the medical treatment wards, there was a similar age-to-stress ratio for the area of organizational uncertainty (p=0.0063). With age, employees of the emergency ward became more indifferent to stress related to unpleasant working conditions (p=0.0009), while stress related to organizational uncertainty increased (p=0.0495). (3) Nurses working in managerial positions assessed the overall stress related to their job higher than other nurses. They were particularly at risk for burdens related to haste, responsibility, and organizational uncertainty. The average overall assessment of work arduousness for this group was 44.6 points, while for surgical nurses it was 37.2 points. Correlations between the performed function and stress levels were found for almost all of the studied work characteristics (except for hazards). (4) Education had a statistically significant impact on the perception of working conditions in several dimensions. The people with the lowest education evaluated working conditions the best. The difference between people with a higher and those with a secondary education with a specialization was definitely smaller and often nonexistent. Education differentiated the work arduousness assessment depending on the ward. The most statistically significant correlations were obtained in surgical wards, and the least in medical treatment wards.

Conclusions

(1) The study results indicate the need to diagnose problems related to work conditions in the context of occupational stress within individual hospital wards. To limit employee turnover, nursing staff managers should approach the issue of improving working conditions individually for each ward, due to differences in the nature of the work and level of stressogenicity. (2) In each hospital ward, employees at different stages of their career are sensitive to the psychosocial burden resulting from different work characteristics. These areas should be thoroughly diagnosed and the burden minimized to prevent departures from the profession—at early stages of the professional career as well as among experienced personnel. (3) Nurses working in managerial positions should receive the necessary substantive support, due to the higher stress burden associated with greater responsibility.

Bullying in the nursing work environment: integrative review

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the studies that approach bullying in the nursing practice environment.

METHOD

Integrative review, conducted between April and December 2018, by combining the descriptors "bullying/bullying" AND "nursing/nursing/nurse" AND "workplace/workplace". We identified 224 studies of which 38 met the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

The studies on nursing bullying presented three main approaches related to the prevalence in nursing practice, the repercussions for health and professional development, and the construction of theoretical models for bullying and nursing work environment variables.

CONCLUSION

Bullying is a negative behavior present in the nursing practice environment and has a direct impact on professional performance, impairing general health and professional performance. Despite being a behavior with recognized negative potential in the work environment, few studies propose effective actions to prevent or control this phenomenon in health institutions.

Workplace bullying and its preventive measures and productivity among emergency department nurses

BACKGROUND

Workplace bullying has adverse effects on nurses' productivity and emotional well-being and increases nurses' desire to leave their jobs. Bullying is a common phenomenon that has been reported worldwide. Emergency Department (ED) nurses are particularly exposed to bullying as a result of their job stressors and demands.

PURPOSES

To examine the prevalence of bullying and the impact of preventive measures on productivity among Jordanian ED nurses; and to examine bullying in relation to personal and organizational factors.

METHODS

We surveyed ED nurses in five hospitals in Amman, Jordan - two government hospitals and three private hospitals. The eligibility criteria for the study, met by 134 persons, were having at least an associate degree and having worked in the ED for at least six months. We used a four-part questionnaire that included demographic data, the Negative Acts Questionnaire, questions on prevention of bullying, and a health and productivity survey. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 120 ED nurses joined the study, an 89.6% response rate. The majority of participants were male (65%) and their mean age was 29.4 years. Ninety percent of the participants reported being bullied. Nurses with less experience in the ED were exposed to more bullying compared to other nurses. Of nurses who reported being bullied, 61.7% reported associated decreased productivity, including the ability to respond to cognitive demands, provide support, appropriate communication, safe care, and competent care. The overall mean score for the prevention of bullying questionnaire was 94.51 out of 168 (SD = 23.43). Drilling down, the highest mean score was for the "Individual sub-scale", and the highest item mean score was for "I know the process of how to report bullying".

CONCLUSION

Bullying is prevalent among ED nurses in Jordan; it has significantly influenced the nurses' perception of their productivity and the quality of care they provide. Although nurses reported adopting measures to prevent bullying, they were insufficient to address this widespread problem.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

Bullying is a common occurrence in nursing practice in Jordan, as in other places. It has a detrimental effect on the quality of health care. Accordingly, interventions, which we describe, should be undertaken to minimize the incidence and impact of bullying.

Workplace bullying and its preventive measures and productivity among emergency department nurses

BACKGROUND

Workplace bullying has adverse effects on nurses' productivity and emotional well-being and increases nurses' desire to leave their jobs. Bullying is a common phenomenon that has been reported worldwide. Emergency Department (ED) nurses are particularly exposed to bullying as a result of their job stressors and demands.

PURPOSES

To examine the prevalence of bullying and the impact of preventive measures on productivity among Jordanian ED nurses; and to examine bullying in relation to personal and organizational factors.

METHODS

We surveyed ED nurses in five hospitals in Amman, Jordan - two government hospitals and three private hospitals. The eligibility criteria for the study, met by 134 persons, were having at least an associate degree and having worked in the ED for at least six months. We used a four-part questionnaire that included demographic data, the Negative Acts Questionnaire, questions on prevention of bullying, and a health and productivity survey. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 120 ED nurses joined the study, an 89.6% response rate. The majority of participants were male (65%) and their mean age was 29.4 years. Ninety percent of the participants reported being bullied. Nurses with less experience in the ED were exposed to more bullying compared to other nurses. Of nurses who reported being bullied, 61.7% reported associated decreased productivity, including the ability to respond to cognitive demands, provide support, appropriate communication, safe care, and competent care. The overall mean score for the prevention of bullying questionnaire was 94.51 out of 168 (SD = 23.43). Drilling down, the highest mean score was for the "Individual sub-scale", and the highest item mean score was for "I know the process of how to report bullying".

CONCLUSION

Bullying is prevalent among ED nurses in Jordan; it has significantly influenced the nurses' perception of their productivity and the quality of care they provide. Although nurses reported adopting measures to prevent bullying, they were insufficient to address this widespread problem.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

Bullying is a common occurrence in nursing practice in Jordan, as in other places. It has a detrimental effect on the quality of health care. Accordingly, interventions, which we describe, should be undertaken to minimize the incidence and impact of bullying.

Psychometric properties of the workplace psychologically violent behaviors-WPVB instrument. Translation and validation in Greek Health Professionals

Background

Mobbing exerts severe psychological and occupational effects on the victim. This study aims to validate the Yildirim & Yildirim's Workplace Psychologically Violent Behaviors (WPVB) instrument (2008) in the Greek language in Greece, as cultural variations may result in significantly different perceptions of mobbing.

Methodology

A translation process of the WPVB questionnaire scale was followed from the English to the Greek version and a review by a team of experts for its content validity took place, as well. Principal component analysis took place and the Cronbach's index was 0.95. The cross sectional, quantitative study was performed in 1536 health professionals (HPs), working in 11 public hospitals for at least one year with response rate of 76.8%.

Results

Factor analysis revealed two factors, and 31-item construct, compared to the four factors and the 33-item construct of the original version of the tool. All items were found to have a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001). Median score was 0.48. Whereas 25% of answers score was above 1.00, thus suggesting significant mobbing in around 25% of HPs. Association of WPVBs subscales with sex and occupation are had lower values in women as compared to men. Lower scores on “Attack on personality” and “Total mobbing” score were recorded in nurses as compared to doctors. Doctors had lower scores on “Individual's isolation from work” as compared to administrative personnel, while had greater scores on “Individual's isolation from work” as compared to technicians. Nurses had significantly lower scores on “Attack on professional status”, “Individual's isolation from work”, “Direct attack” and “Total mobbing” score as compared to administrative personnel.

Conclusions

The study highlights that the phenomenon of mobbing exists in Greek HPs regardless of age, gender, level of study and negatively affects their lives. Focusing on improving this area, is expected to promote occupational health and safety of these workers.