Citation

Stutte K, Hahn S, Fierz K, Zúñiga F. Geriatr. Nurs. 2017; 38(5): 398-405.

Affiliation

Nursing Science, Departement Public Health (DPH), Faculty of Medicine, University of Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: franziska.zuniga@unibas.ch.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.gerinurse.2017.02.001

PMID

28291563

Abstract

The aim of this secondary data analysis of the cross-sectional Swiss Nursing Homes Human Resources Project (SHURP) study was to describe the prevalence of residents' verbal, physical and sexual aggression toward care workers in Swiss nursing homes and to explore their association with context and care worker factors. The study's sample incorporated data from 155 randomly selected nursing homes, including 402 units. Among care workers (n = 3919), 66% reported experiencing verbal, 42% physical and 15% sexual aggression. Logistic regression analyses indicated that non-special care units and care workers' higher perception of staffing and resources adequacy and higher age were associated with a decreased likelihood of aggression, whereas emotional exhaustion was associated with an increased likelihood. Our results suggest an association of aggressive resident behavior with modifiable context and care worker factors. Knowledge about this may contribute to a continuous improvement process, enhancing residents' well-being alongside care workers' safety and satisfaction.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Aggression management; Aggressive behavior; Dementia; Long-term care; Nursing homes; Work environment