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FrancoAngeli Journals

Materiali per la ricerca e l'approfondimento

No. 134 (2025)

Managing Violence Against Healthcare Workers: The Experience of the University Hospital of Sassari

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3280/mesa2025-134oa22048
Submitted
febbraio 11, 2026
Published
2026-04-24

Abstract

The article explores workplace violence against healthcare workers at the University Hospital of Sassari, a growing issue both nationally and globally.
Through a literature review, analysis of 2022–2024 incident-reporting data, and insights from an institutional interview, the evolution of the phenomenon and the initiatives implemented are explored. Most aggressions are verbal, concentrated in the Emergency Department, and directed mainly at nurses and younger professionals.
The hospital has introduced a structured procedure including organizational measures, deescalation training, enhanced security, improved communication with patients and families, psychological support for affected workers, and strengthened reporting systems. Despite notable progress, workplace violence remains multifactorial and persistent, requiring integrated and continuous strategies.

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