Who Cares for Visiting Nurses? Workplace Violence against Home Visiting Nurses from Public Health Centers in Korea

Current Status and Factors Influencing Emergency Response Capability of Shared Nurses in the Internet + Nursing Service Model: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Aim

To evaluate the existing level of emergency capabilities among shared nurses and analyze the factors influencing these capabilities.

Methods

An descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted from September to October 2023, a purposive sampling method was employed to select 340 shared nurses as the subjects for investigation in Nanchang and Ganzhou cities of Jiangxi Province, as well as Wenzhou city in Zhejiang Province. A self - designed questionnaire on the emergency capabilities of shared nurses was utilized for data collection.

Results

This investigation encompassed the collection of 340 valid questionnaires, assessing the overall emergency response proficiency of shared nurses. The cumulative score amounted to (170.81±24.62), averaging (4.27±0.62). It is noteworthy that the dimension scoring the highest was preparedness (4.33±0.68), whereas the recovery capability dimension received the lowest score (4.17±0.75). Through multiple linear regression analysis, it was determined that marital status, participation in emergency capability training, and experience in home nursing services significantly influenced the emergency capabilities of shared nurses (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Shared nurses in China demonstrate a moderately high level of emergency response capability. The marital status, participation in emergency capacity training, and on-site nursing service experience are pivotal factors influencing the emergency capabilities of shared nurses. Nursing administrators should prioritize the development of emergency capacity training and team building for shared nurses, establishing a scientifically standardized mechanism for training, assessment, and management. The implementation of performance evaluation mechanisms for shared nurses is crucial to enhance professional awareness within the workforce.

Classifying Studies on Workplace Violence for Visiting Nurses Using the Social-Ecological Model: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE

To prevent workplace violence (WV) against visiting nurses (VNs), understanding the influencing factors is crucial. To better comprehend potential violence prevention strategies, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has presented the four-level social-ecological model (SEM) at the 1) individual, 2) relationship, 3) community, and 4) societal levels. This study aims to quantify WV studies against VNs, examine the influencing factors, identify gaps based on SEM levels, and propose future research and policy directions.

DESIGN

A scoping review was conducted following the five-stage protocol proposed by Arksey and O'Malley in 2005.

METHODS

Systematic searches, including manual searches, were performed using English and Korean databases. Published journal articles including editorials on WV against VNs were included, irrespective of the publication date.

FINDINGS

Sixty journal articles were finally selected. Until the 1990s, most of the literature comprised editorials, with empirical research emerging after the 2000s. Classifying studies by SEM level, many studies have focused on individual (86.7%) and community (66.7%) factors, but fewer have addressed relationship (21.7%) and societal (16.7%) factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed that much research has focused on individual-centered training, with gaps in risk assessment tool development, training incorporating relational aspects, standardized protocols, and understanding of the impact of legal rights and policies. This article advocates a comprehensive approach that considers all SEM levels to address WV against VNs.

CLINICAL EVIDENCE

The findings confirm a research gap, which suggests the direction for future research and policies. Stakeholders should be urged to implement evidence-based strategies that contribute to safer work environments for VNs.

Research on Abuse in Home Care: A Scoping Review

Home care is the preferred care option for most people who need support; yet abuse exists in these settings toward both home care workers and clients. There are no existing reviews that assess the scope of current research on abuse in home care, and tangentially related reviews are dated. For these reasons, a scoping review is warranted to map the current state of research on abuse in home care and examine current interventions in this field. Databases selected for searching were Medline and EMBASE on OVID, Scopus, and the following databases in EBSCOhost: Academic Search Complete, AgeLine, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. Records were included if: (a) they were written in English; (b) the participants were home care workers or clients age 18 years or older; (c) they were published in journals; (d) they undertook empirical research; and (e) they were published within the last 10-year period. Following Graham et al. (2006), the 52 included articles are categorized as either knowledge inquiry or as intervention studies. We find three themes among knowledge inquiry studies: (1) prevalence and types of abuse in home care, (2) abuse in the context of living with dementia, and (3) working conditions and abuse. Analysis from the intervention studies suggest that not all organizations have specific policies and practices to prevent abuse, and no existing interventions to protect the well-being of clients were identified. Findings from this review can inform up-to-date practice and policymaking to improve the health and well-being of home care clients and workers.

Workplace Violence Experienced by Personal Care Workers in a District in Seoul, Republic of Korea: A Comparison Study with Office and Service Workers

This study compared the level of workplace violence experienced by personal healthcare workers in a district in Seoul, Republic of Korea, with those experienced by workers in office or service jobs. We matched 150 personal care workers with 150 office workers and 150 service workers using a propensity score. Workplace violence was categorized into psychological violence and physical violence. Of the surveyed personal care workers, 53.3% reported experiencing psychological violence, and 42.0% reported experiencing physical violence. After adjusting for self-reported work-related symptoms, personal care workers had significantly higher odds of experiencing psychological violence than office workers (OR = 5.01; 95% CI: 2.80-8.97) or service workers (OR = 7.54; 95% CI: 3.93-14.47). The adjusted odds for physical violence were also significantly higher for personal care workers compared with those for office workers (OR = 5.83; 95% CI: 2.96-11.50) and service workers (OR = 6.00; 95% CI: 2.88-12.49). In terms of specific types of workplace violence, personal care workers were 7-10 times more likely to experience unwanted sexual attention, sexual harassment, and physical violence than office or service workers. We found that personal care workers were more prone to workplace violence than office or service workers, with gender-based or physical violence being the most common types. Considering the negative impact of workplace violence on workers' well-being and health services, policy updates and interventions focusing on personal care workers are needed to reduce workplace violence, safeguard workers' rights, and establish a secure working environment.

Experiences of workplace violence among healthcare workers in home care settings: A qualitative systematic review

AIMS

The aims of this systematic review were to obtain a comprehensive understanding of healthcare workers' experiences who were subjected to workplace violence in the home care environment and identify their specific support needs.

BACKGROUND

Workplace violence toward healthcare workers has been a prevalent and ongoing issue. With the expansion of home care services, more emphasis should be placed on maintaining a safe in-home care environment for healthcare workers. Understanding healthcare workers' experience of workplace violence is crucial for developing effective interventions.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in 10 databases from their inception date until January 2022. Primary qualitative studies were included. Two reviewers performed screening of studies, methodological quality assessment, and data extraction and analysis independently. The two-step approach by Sandelowski and Barroso on meta-summary and meta-synthesis was used. This qualitative systematic review was reported according to the PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

Eight studies were included. Three themes were identified: (1) impact of workplace violence, (2) reasons behind tolerating violence, and (3) way forward to prevent violence.

CONCLUSION

Workplace violence is common among healthcare workers in home care settings, yet the support provided to healthcare workers is inadequate. The findings suggest the need for effective interventions and policies to address this grave issue in order to improve the well-being of healthcare workers as it may indirectly affect the care quality provided to patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Due to the unique nature of home care services, interventions preventing workplace violence must be tailored to the specific home care settings and needs of healthcare workers. Future research should develop and evaluate different interventions to prevent workplace violence in home care settings.

Workplace Violence Experienced by Community Mental Health Workers

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to 1) investigate the prevalence of workplace violence and workers' emotional distress, 2) explore factors associated with workplace violence, and 3) assess workers' needs for preventive measures. A total of 763 community mental health workers participated in Korea. Among them, 85.85% of workers experienced workplace violence, including verbal (74.31%), emotional (66.45%), infectious (47.44%), informational (42.60%), sexual (32.50%), and physical (23.72%) abuse. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that sex, occupation, certification, and working institution were significantly associated with workplace violence. Workplace violence affects workers' depression, anger, and anxiety negatively. The most-needed preventive measure is a two-person home visit.

Nurses' Willingness and Demand for Internet +home Care Services and Its Influencing Factors in Different Levels of Hospitals in China - A Nationwide Survey

Purpose

The present study aimed to investigate nurses’ willingness and demand for Internet +home care services in different levels of hospitals in China and analyze the influencing factors.

Participants and Methods

From October 1 to December 31, 2021, 5714 nurses from 15 hospitals in five regions of China were recruited in this cross-sectional study using a two-stage random sampling method. A self-designed questionnaire with good reliability and validity was used to measure nurses’ willingness and demand for Internet +home care services. χ² test, Welch t-test, and multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze the data.

Results

Nurses were highly willing to provide Internet +home care services. Statistical differences were found in the willingness to provide Internet +home care services and the preference for service distance, service platform, and single service fee between nurses in different levels of hospitals (both P<0.05). The willingness to provide “catheter maintenance service” and “rehabilitation nursing service” of nurses in different levels of hospitals were statistically significant (both P<0.05). Nurses’ demand for Internet +home care services increased with the level of their hospital. Multiple linear regression showed that professional title, educational level, monthly family income, and mortgage or car loan influence nurses’ demand for Internet +home care services.

Conclusion

Nurses’ willingness and demand for Internet +home care services vary with the level of their hospitals. It is recommended that government and hospitals regulate the service items, the service distance, single service fee, and other contents according to nurses’ willingness and demand and establish relevant laws and regulations to ensure the steady and orderly development of the Internet +home care services.

Determinants associated with the incidence of occupational accidents among visiting nurses from home-visit nursing agencies: Secondary analysis of cross-national survey data in Japan

AIM

This study aimed to determine the incidence of occupational accidents among home-visiting nurses from home-visit nursing agencies and relevant factors.

METHODS

Data from a questionnaire survey, conducted in March 2020, concerning home-visit nursing agencies were used as a secondary source. A total of 9979 agencies were surveyed. The questionnaires included items relating to the number of occupational accidents experienced by visiting nurses that occurred during a 3-month period. The occurrence of accidents in an agency was set as a dependent variable, and logistic regression analysis was performed on its association with agency attributes. For agencies in which accidents occurred, the number of accidents per 10 full-time-equivalent nurses was estimated, and multiple regression analysis was administered to investigate its association with agency attributes.

RESULTS

The findings of the logistic regression analysis revealed that new agencies, a greater number of full-time-equivalent nurses, emergency visitation support, and performing an analysis of accident cases for accident prevention were significantly associated with the occurrence of accidents. A median of 3.3 accidents occurred per 10 full-time-equivalent nurses at such agencies. Multiple regression analysis showed that a lower number of full-time-equivalent nurses was significantly associated with an increase in the frequency of accidents.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that to devise and deploy safety measures for visiting nurses, all home-visit nursing agencies must build reporting and analysis systems for occupational accidents among home-visiting nurses. Moreover, ensuring safety measures for nurses working in small-scale agencies is of utmost importance. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; ••: ••-••.

Determinants of violence towards care workers working in the home setting: A systematic review

Background

Home care is a rapidly growing industry. Violence towards home care workers is common, while also likely underreported. This violence adversely affects the physical and mental health of both workers and care recipients. The current study aims to identify and appraise recent evidence on the determinants of violence towards care workers working in the home setting.

Methods

Six electronic databases: the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Informit, Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science, were systematically searched. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute manual for evidence synthesis.

Results

A total of 18 papers met the inclusion criteria. All were cross‐sectional surveys. The majority of studies were from the United States. The most commonly investigated associations were those between the medical history of clients, workers' apprehension of violence, worker‐client relationship, or care plans, and any form of violence or verbal abuse.

Conclusion

Violence was common in clients with cognitive disorders, substance abuse disorder, and limited mobility; toward workers who feared that violence might happen; toward those who had very close or very distant worker‐client relationships; and when care plans were not inclusive of clients' needs. The current review highlights a gap in evidence on determinants of violence towards care workers working in the home setting, and suggests potential areas to be addressed to reduce such violence.