Workplace Violence Interventions Used by Home Healthcare Workers

Abstract

The threat of workplace violence (WPV) is a significant occupational hazard for home healthcare workers (HHCWs). The purpose of this integrative review is to examine WPV interventions used by HHCWs to stay safe while working in the patient's home and community. The methodology used was the integrative review by Whittemore and Knafl (2005), which allows for inclusion of experimental and non-experimental research, reflecting the state of the science on interventions used by HHCWs to mitigate and prevent WPV. A total of 17 articles pertained to interventions used by HHCWs. Interventions were further categorized by WPV Type. There are a number of interventions used for Type I and II WPV. However, interventions for Type III WPV are minimal and interventions for Type IV WPV are obsolete. Safety and health training were shown to be significant in increasing HHCWs' confidence and knowledge about WPV prevention. Researchers demonstrated safety and health training are effective in promoting a safe work environment and reducing incidents of WPV. This review begins to fill the gap in the literature on interventions used by HHCWs to mitigate and prevent WPV.

Workplace Violence Prevention Training, Safety Resources, and Commitment to HHCWs’ Safety

“…The number of visits completed after dark and the number of home visits conducted during the workday were assessed on the demographic survey. Questions for the demographic survey were derived from a literature review that discussed interventions and resources used by HHCWs to prevent WPV (Small et al, 2020).…”

“…Finally, OHNs can advocate for mandatory WPV prevention training and provision of cell phones prior to the first home visit to promote a safe work environment for HHCWs. demographic survey were derived from a literature review that discussed interventions and resources used by HHCWs to prevent WPV (Small et al, 2020).…”

Workplace violence among home healthcare workers in KSA: Prevalence, predictors, action, and response 2021

“…According to the American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, workplace violence is defined as the ‘act or threat of violence ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults directed toward persons at work or on duty 1 ’ .…”

“…Professional and regulatory authorities have recognised workplace violence in healthcare as a serious occupational hazard. 1 , 2 In the United States of America (USA), approximately half of workplace violence incidents leading to nonfatal injuries occur in the healthcare and social service sectors. In the United Kingdom (UK), workplace-related incidents leading to non-fatal injuries are four times greater in healthcare than in the private industry.…”

“…In the United Kingdom (UK), workplace-related incidents leading to non-fatal injuries are four times greater in healthcare than in the private industry. 1 , 2 Survey results have shown that between 5% and 61% of home healthcare workers experience workplace violence during their careers. However, due to under-reporting, the actual prevalence is thought to be even higher.…”