March 2026 Monthly Literature Search – Occupational Violence in Healthcare
This month’s literature review explores occupational violence in health care settings. Research highlights the impacts of physical, verbal, and written aggression, as well as the psychological effect of witnessing violence. Informed practice emphasises the importance of consistent reporting, de‑escalation strategies, and timely support services. Applying evidence-based approaches can prevent harm and strengthen staff capability. Aggression or violence, it’s not part of the job.
Grey literature
- Canberra Health Services intranet Occupational violence page includes:
- Occupational Violence Prevention and Management Action Plan 2024-28
- How to report occupational violence
- Resources to support staff
- Training information
- Toolkits, fact sheets and research OV resources
- ACT Government campaign Help make our workplaces free from aggression or violence - ACT Government
Full-text articles
Abregú-Tueros, L. F., Bravo-Esquivel, C. J., Abregú-Arroyo, S. K., dos Santos-Rosa, R., & Galve-Manzano, J. L. (2024). Consensus on relevant psychosocial interventions applied in health institutions to prevent psychological violence at work: Delphi method. BMC Research Notes, 17(1), 19.
Abreu, A. R., Gonçalves, F., Oliveira, S., & Ribeiro, I. (2026). Workplace violence against healthcare workers: a scoping review of reporting practices, barriers to reporting and institutional responses (2020–2025). BMC Health Services Research. preprint
Babin, M. M., Horvath, P. R., Weiss, M. R., & Vang, Z. (2025). Proactive Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care. Journal of Nursing Care Quality.
Cabilan, C. J., Judge, C., Field, R., Eley, R., & Johnston, A. N. B. (2023). Tougher laws, too few prosecutions? A mixed methods study of nurses’ experiences regarding the reporting of occupational violence to the police. Collegian, 30(5), 686–692.
Cariveau, L. L., Paul, N. B., & Tellson, A. M. (2026). Take a stand against workplace violence. Nursing Management, 57(2), 28–34.
Carr, E. R., Hamlett, N., & Hillbrand, M. (2025). Integrating behavioral, psychodynamic, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed principles to decrease aggressive behavior in inpatient care. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 95(1), 52–58.
Chung, Y., Chang, Y., Fetzer, S. J., Tessmer, L., Tsai, M., & Feng, J. (2025). The Effectiveness of Workplace Violence Prevention Education Training Programs on Healthcare Professionals’ Confidence: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. International Nursing Review, 72(4).
Croland, J., Overton, S., Nimtz-Rusch, K., Emmerling, S., & Wiegand, L. (2023). Implementation of a Violence Risk Assessment and Interventions Aimed at the Prevention of Patient-Perpetrated Violent Events Across Care Settings. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 53(3), 168–174.
Dafny, H. A., Snaith, N., Cooper, P., Waheed, N., McCloud, C., & Champion, S. (2025). Clinical facilitators’ experiences and management strategies of workplace violence against registered nurse students on clinical placements. Psychology of Violence.
Dafny, H. A., Waheed, N., Cabilan, C. J., Johnston, S., Pearson, V., Adams, A. M., Phillips, C., Brown, S., & McCloud, C. (2025). Effectiveness of interventions for the prevention or management of workplace violence in student nurses during clinical placement: A systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 81(3), 1142–1171.
Delaney, K. R., Beeber, L. S., & Solorzano Martinez, A. J. (2025). Approaching the Issue of Workplace Violence: Big Ideas and Opportunities. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 31(5), 445–447.
Derscheid, D. J., & Arnetz, J. E. (2025). Staff and Work Environment Factors Associated With Workplace Violence in Hospitals. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 67(3), 191–196.
DeSouza, F., & Bleich, M. (2023). A Quality Improvement Approach to Violence Reduction. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 38(4), 361–366.
Emmerling, S. A., McGarvey, J. S., & Burdette, K. S. (2024). Evaluating a Workplace Violence Management Program and Nurses’ Confidence in Coping With Patient Aggression. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 54(3), 160–166.
Gammone, M., Cattani, D., Barbieri, M., Moro, A., Zanini, M., Catania, G., Sasso, L., Timmins, F., & Bagnasco, A. (2025). Interventions to Prevent Patient‐ and Visitor‐Perpetrated Violence Against Nurses in the Emergency Department: A Scoping Review. Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Georgadarellis, A. G., Shabanova, V., Hoffman, P., Tiyyagura, G., Auerbach, M., & Langhan, M. L. (2025). Don’t Get MAD. Pediatric Emergency Care.
George, N., & Potter, C. (2023). The buck stops with you: Zero tolerance for violence toward nurses. Nursing Management, 54(11), 41–45.
Hargreaves, C., & Wax, J. R. (2024). Violence in the healthcare workplace. Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 36(4), 234–238.
Jackson, D. I., Maa, T., Luna, J., Huang, Y., Fristad, M. A., & Sezgin, E. (2025). Challenges and opportunities in healthcare workplace violence training: A qualitative study of staff experiences. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 40(4), 641–654.
Kumari, A., Sarkar, S., Ranjan, P., Chopra, S., Kaur, T., Baitha, U., Chakrawarty, A., & Klanidhi, K. B. (2022). Interventions for workplace violence against health-care professionals: A systematic review. Work, 73(2), 415–427.
Kynoch, K., Liu, X.-L., Cabilan, C. J., & Ramis, M.-A. (2024a). Educational programs and interventions for health care staff to prevent and manage aggressive behaviors in acute hospitals: a systematic review. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 22(4), 560–606.
Kynoch, K., Liu, X.-L., Cabilan, C. J., & Ramis, M.-A. (2024b). Managing workplace violence against health care workers: education alone is not enough. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 22(4), 515–517.
Lim, M. C., Jeffree, M. S., Saupin, S. S., Giloi, N., & Lukman, K. A. (2022). Workplace violence in healthcare settings: The risk factors, implications and collaborative preventive measures. Annals of Medicine & Surgery, 78.
Mahmoudi, F., Garmaroudi, G., Saniee, N., Razavi, N., Mosadegh Rad, A. M., & Ashoorkhani, M. (2026). Causes of workplace violence against nurses and strategies for its prevention in developed countries: a scoping review. BMC Nursing.
Mallett-Smith, S., Jadalla, A., Hardan-Khalil, K., Sarff, L., & Brady, M. (2023). Implementation of an Assault Prevention Quality Improvement Initiative in an Urban Emergency Department. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 38(4), 341–347.
McGregor, J. R., Mills, X., Ung, J., Roffee, J., & Long, K. (2025). A rapid evidence assessment on prevention and reporting in nurses experiences of workplace violence. Journal of Research in Nursing, 30(3), 256–266.
Michels, S. L., Brasic, N. T., Fencl, J. L., Spangler, E. B., & Norman, L. S. (2025). Building Momentum Toward Ending Workplace Violence: Multidisciplinary Strategies to Maximize Healthcare Safety While Mitigating Factors of Risk. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 31(5), 535–542.
Mundey, N., Terry, V., Gow, J., Duff, J., & Ralph, N. (2023). Preventing Violence against Healthcare Workers in Hospital Settings: A Systematic Review of Nonpharmacological Interventions. Journal of Nursing Management, 2023, 1–14.
Olmedo, A. (2026). De-escalation. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!, 24(2), 32–40.
Prod’hom, L., Mahé, S., Lequin, P., Drozdek, D., & Perrenoud, B. (2025). Preventing aggression in psychiatric settings: a best practice implementation project. JBI Evidence Implementation.
Qasem, I., & Gillespie, G. L. (2025). Intervention and Strategies to Prevent Workplace Violence From Patients and Visitors Against Nurses: An Integrative Review. Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Regan, D. (2025). A violence prevention program’s impact on nurses’ confidence in managing patient aggression. Nursing Management, 56(9), 11–17.
Riddick, J., Davis, J., & Palokas, M. (2025). Preventing aggression in a pediatric inpatient unit: a best practice implementation project. JBI Evidence Implementation.
Sammut, D., Hallett, N., & Lees‐Deutsch, L. (2025). Post‐Event Strategies for Workplace Violence Affecting Hospital Staff: A Scoping Review. Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Smith, M. A. (2023). A Clinical Nurse Leader-Guided Behavior Management Consult Team to Impact Workplace Violence Against Nurses. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 38(3), 272–277.
Somani, R., Muntaner, C., Hillan, E., Velonis, A. J., & Smith, P. (2021). A Systematic Review: Effectiveness of Interventions to De-escalate Workplace Violence against Nurses in Healthcare Settings. Safety and Health at Work, 12(3), 289–295.
Spezzano, S., Raso, R., & McLoughlin, J. (2023). Mitigating workplace violence: An interdisciplinary approach to a behavioral response team. Nursing Management, 54(11), 8–15.
Virkstis, K., Balá, L., Taylor, J., & Forester, R. (2024). The AWARE Framework: A Technology-Driven Approach to Creating a Safer Care Environment. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 54(3), 139–141.
Yosep, I., Mardhiyah, A., Hendrawati, H., & Hendrawati, S. (2023). Interventions for Reducing Negative Impacts of Workplace Violence Among Health Workers: A Scoping Review. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, Volume 16, 1409–1421.