Comparison of Study/Article Characteristics and Methodological Quality of International Nurse Workplace Violence Research Published Before and After the Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert on Disruptive Behaviors

摘要

Purpose: The majority of new nurses experience workplace violence from other nurses. The purpose of this study was to compare study/research characteristics and methodological quality of international nurse workplace violence research published before and after the 2008 release of the U.S. The Joint Commission (TJC) sentinel event alert on disruptive behaviors.Methods: Thirty-nine quantitative nurse workplace violence research articles published between 2001 and 2012 were assessed and divided into two groups: articles published (a) before the 2008 TJC sentinel event alert or the same year, i.e., 2001-2008 (BTJC) and (b) after the 2008 TJC sentinel event alert, i.e., 2009-2012 (ATJC).Major Results: There was a significant association between where an article was published (U.S. or non-U.S.) and group (BTJC and ATJC, p = .036). In the ATJC group, North America had more articles than expected by chance, and Australia/New Zealand had fewer articles than expected by chance. In the ATJC group, journal subspecialty was significantly associated with group (p = .004). The number of articles published in management/staff development journals was almost double the number of articles in the BTJC group. However, there was no difference in methodological quality as measured by the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument between the BTJC and ATJC groups. The design of the studies of both groups was predominantly single group, cross-sectional.Conclusions: These findings suggest that 2008 TJC sentinel event alert has promoted U.S. nursing management to address workplace violence among nurses. Additionally, the methodological quality of this research area could be advanced by conducting more intervention studies to prevent and eliminate workplace violence among nurses.