Fear of future workplace violence and its influencing factors among nurses in Shandong, China: a cross-sectional study

Chang Fu; Yaru Ren; Guowen Wang; Xiuxin Shi; Fenglin Cao

doi:10.1186/s12912-021-00644-w

Fear of future workplace violence and its influencing factors among nurses in Shandong, China: a cross-sectional study

BMC Nurs. 2021 Jul 7;20(1):123. doi: 10.1186/s12912-021-00644-w.

Authors

Chang Fu¹, Yaru Ren², Guowen Wang³, Xiuxin Shi⁴, Fenglin Cao⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Psychology, School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 44 Wenhuaxilu Rd., Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
² Department of Nursing Science, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No. 16766 Jingshilu Rd., Jinan, 250014, Shandong, China.
³ Department of Education, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, No. 324 Jingwuweiqilu Rd., Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
⁴ Office of Medical Quality Control, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 107 Wenhuaxilu Rd., Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
⁵ Department of Health Psychology, School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, No. 44 Wenhuaxilu Rd., Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China. fenglin@sdu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Background: Fear of workplace violence has become a critical issue worldwide, which can lead to burnout, low levels of job satisfaction, and turnover. However, to date, little attention has been directed toward fear of workplace violence among nurses. Accordingly, this study investigated the level of fear of future workplace violence and its influencing factors among nurses in Shandong, China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 30 through September 30, 2020 in Shandong Province, China. A total of 1898 nurses were enrolled from 12 tertiary hospitals. Fear of future workplace violence was measured using the Fear of Future Violence at Work scale. Demographic information, employment characteristics, social support, and experience of workplace violence were assessed. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of fear of future workplace violence.

Results: The average score of fear of future violence at work was 67.43 ± 17.20 among nurses. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher fear of future violence at work scores were reported among nurses who were female (B = 7.10, p < 0.001), married (B = 3.50, p = 0.028), with a monthly income ≥5000 Chinese yuan (CNY) (B = 3.14, p = 0.007), working in the department of internal medicine (B = 2.90, p = 0.032), surgery (B = 5.03, p < 0.001), pediatrics (B = 5.38, p = 0.003), or emergency department (B = 4.50, p = 0.010), working as a contract employee (B = 2.41, p = 0.042), or who had experienced workplace violence (B = 7.02, p < 0.001). Lower fear of future violence at work scores were found among nurses who took vacations (1-14 days: B = - 2.52, p = 0.047; ≥15 days: B = - 3.69, p = 0.007) and had a high-level of social support (B = - 2.03, p = 0.020).

Conclusions: There was a high level of fear of future workplace violence among nurses in Shandong, China. This should be considered an important issue by hospital administrators and government officials. Effective interventions need to be enacted to address the influencing factors of fear of future workplace violence.

Keywords: Fear of future workplace violence; Influencing factors; Nurse; Workplace violence.