Workplace violence and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder and burnout among nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim: This review examined the association between workplace violence and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and burnout among nurses.

Background: The extent to which workplace violence is associated with an increased risk of PTSD and burnout in nurses remains unclear.

Evaluation: We searched nine electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Chinese Biomedical, China National Knowledge Internet and WANFANG).

Key issues: Overall, 114 full-text studies were identified; 43 met the inclusion criteria, of which 10 were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to their counterparts with non-exposure to workplace violence, nurses experiencing it had 2.13 and 2.25 times higher odds of reporting PTSD and burnout after adjusting the confounding factors. Additionally, the moderator and mediator factors might help reduce the risk of both in this population.

Conclusion: This study indicated that workplace violence increases the risk of PTSD and burnout.

Implications for nursing management: Our review identified the magnitude of the association between exposure to workplace violence and the reported symptoms of PTSD and burnout in nurses. Furthermore, multi-targeted efforts directed at the identified social/organizational, task-related and individual resources might help mitigate their harmful impact in the aforementioned population.

Keywords: burnout; meta-analysis; nurses; post-traumatic stress disorder; workplace violence.