TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - Cross-sectional study of aggression against Spanish nursing personnel and effects on somatisation of physical symptoms
JO  - BMJ open
A1  - Pérez-Fuentes, María del Carmen
A1  - Molero Jurado, María Del Mar
A1  - Martos Martínez, África
A1  - Simón Márquez, María Del Mar
A1  - Oropesa Ruiz, Nieves Fátima
A1  - Gázquez Linares, Jose Jesus
SP  - e034143
EP  - e034143
VL  - 10
IS  - 3
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 2044-6055
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034143
ID  - ref1
ER  -