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FrancoAngeli Journals

Materiali per la ricerca e l'approfondimento

No. 134 (2025)

Preventing Violence against Healthcare Workers. The Swiss Case of the Locarno Hospital

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3280/mesa2025-134oa22049
Submitted
febbraio 11, 2026
Published
2026-04-24

Abstract

Workplace violence against healthcare workers represents a growing challenge for healthcare systems, with significant implications for staff well-being and organizational sustainability. This paper presents a case study of the Locarno Hospital, a public acute-care hospital in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, describing an integrated model for the management and prevention of workplace aggression based on governance, organizational culture, and shared responsibility. Drawing on incident-reporting data from the 2021-2024 period and on the analysis of institutional procedures, the article examines the evolution of aggressive events and the typology of incidents recorded. Particular attention is paid to reporting systems and preventive actions based on training, communication, and the promotion of kindness.
The findings show a reduction in reported aggressions since 2021, suggesting the effectiveness of an organizational and relational approach.

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