Background:
Violence at work is one of the major concerns in health care activities. The aim of this studywas to identify the prevalence of physical and non-physical violence in a general health carefacility in Italy and to assess the relationship between violence and psychosocial factors,thereby providing a basis for appropriate intervention.
Methods:
All health care workers from a public health care facility were invited to complete aquestionnaire containing questions on workplace violence. Three questionnaire-based crosssectionalsurveys were conducted. The response rate was 75 % in 2005, 71 % in 2007, and 94% in 2009. The 2009 questionnaire contained the VIF (Violent Incident Form) for reportingviolent incidents, the DCS (demand/control/support) model for job strain, the Colquitt 20item questionnaire for perceived organizational justice, and the GHQ12 General HealthQuestionnaire for the assessment of mental health.
Results:
One out of ten workers reported physical assault, and one out of three exposure to nonphysicalviolence in the workplace in the previous year. Nurses and physicians were the mostexposed occupational categories, whereas the psychiatric and emergency departments werethe services at greatest risk of violence. Workers exposed to non-physical violence weresubject to high job strain, low support, low perceived organizational justice, and highpsychological distress.
Conclusions:
Our study shows that health care workers in an Italian local health care facility are exposed toviolence. Workplace violence was associated with high demand and psychological disorders,while job control, social support and organizational justice were protective factors.