Healthcare workers face high rates of workplace violence in European study

A study conducted under the European BRAVE-WOW project has revealed significant levels of violence in healthcare settings across Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Slovenia. The investigation, which involved over 4,600 professionals, found that 68.1% of Italian healthcare workers have witnessed at least one episode of verbal violence in their work environment, while 65.7% reported experiencing psychological violence.

Beyond overt aggression, the research highlights a more subtle form of violence: the systematic devaluation of professional work. This was reported by 16.3% of participants overall and 19.3% in hospital settings. Other frequent forms include shouting and insults (15.1%) and abuses related to hierarchical relationships (12.1%).

Researchers, including Anna Carannante from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, noted that these repetitive behaviors of delegitimization can often be perceived as normal due to their frequency. The study identified workload overload and overcrowding as the primary factors associated with these incidents, cited by 54.3% of participants, rather than night shifts or emergency situations.