NCT06921083

Violence in ICU: Outcomes, Lessons, and Experiences of ICU Team (The VIOLENT-Study)

Investigating Management and Perceptions of Aggression, Conflict, and Threat in ICU Environments

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 500 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to investigate the perceptions, experiences, and responses of healthcare professionals working in intensive care units in Switzerland concerning patient violence.

Detailed description

Workplace violence, as defined by the International Labor Organization, includes any action, incident, or behavior that assaults, threatens, harms, or injures a person during their work. Healthcare workers face the highest risk of workplace violence among all professions. Violence can take many forms, including verbal abuse, physical offenses to sexual harassment. While most research focuses on psychiatric and emergency departments, workplace violence in intensive care units (ICUs) is understudied and often underreported. As a result, little is known about its prevalence and risk factors, leading to a lack of awareness and effective prevention strategies. This study examines the perceptions, experiences, and responses of healthcare professionals in Swiss ICUs. A questionnaire-based survey will assess various aspects, including personal background (such as education and professional role), the frequency and nature of past incidents of workplace violence, responses and measures taken, psychological or professional consequences, current prevention strategies, and suggestions for improving workplace safety. Since workplace violence is a common issue, the results of this study could help improve the work environment and safety in ICUs and other healthcare settings.

Conditions

• Workplace Stress

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-01
• Primary completion: 2025-12-01
• Completion: 2025-12-01
• First posted: 2025-04-10
• Last updated: 2025-04-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland