@article{ref1,
title="Cross-sectional study of aggression against Spanish nursing personnel and effects on somatisation of physical symptoms",
journal="BMJ open",
year="2020",
author="Pérez-Fuentes, María del Carmen and Molero Jurado, María Del Mar and Martos Martínez, África and Simón Márquez, María Del Mar and Oropesa Ruiz, Nieves Fátima and Gázquez Linares, Jose Jesus",
volume="10",
number="3",
pages="e034143-e034143",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Violence against nursing personnel in their place of work is a severe problem generating important consequences for these workers. Even though there is a large body of research on the subject, the emotional impact of aggression against healthcare workers continues to be debated. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: The objective of this quantitative, observational cross-sectional study was to analyse the effects of aggression against nursing personnel and the mediating role of anxiety in somaticising physical symptoms. <br><br>METHOD: The sample was made up of 1357 nursing professionals who answered questionnaires evaluating their sensitivity to anxiety and the presence of somatic symptoms. <br><br>RESULTS: Of the professionals who indicated that they had been the victims of aggression by family members or patients in the previous year, 52.8% said it had happened to them on one occasion, 25.2% had experienced two episodes, while 6.9% and 15.1% said they had undergone three or more aggressions, respectively. Although 89.3% of the professionals affected by acts of indicated that they had not undergone physical or psychological consequences, there was a higher prevalence of somatic alteration among workers who had been victims of violence in the workplace. Furthermore, aggression at work had a direct effect on physical somatisation, which in turn acted as a mediator in the level of anxiety of nursing professionals. Thus, aggression increased the level of anxiety of nurses through the appearance of somatic symptoms. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The results are discussed based on some of the consequences that appeared after episodes of aggression in the healthcare sector and their relationship.<br><br>© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2044-6055",
doi="10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034143",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034143"
}