Caregivers' Experience of Violence and Coping with It in Nursing Homes

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate verbal, physical and sexual violence to caregivers in nursing home workplaces. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done from October 17 to 31, 2011 at eight randomly selected nursing homes in Seoul and one nursing home in Gyeonggi, South Korea. This study explored their responses to violence and violent situations, and then investigated on how caregivers coped with workplace violence. RESULTS: The results of this study show that most caregivers in nursing homes experience some form of violence. Verbal violence was more frequent than physical or sexual violence. Verbal and physical violence occurred most often while they were changing the clothes of patients and sexual violence occurred most often while they were showering patients. After experiencing violence, caregivers most often dealt with the situation by informing their colleagues of what was happened. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that institutional and administrative measures must be implemented to increase the prevention of violence against caregivers and to improve effective measures to deal with violence once it has occurred. Violence in nursing homes can be reduced through the combination of appropriate responses by caregivers and proper education of both patients and caregivers.