2018 Volume 18 Issue 4 Pages 247-251
This study examined incidents relating to harassment by patients and family members towards nursing staffs. Surveys were distributed to directors and staff of home-visit nursing stations in Prefecture A in Japan, and responses were obtained from 272 individuals at 52 home-visit stations. 32 institutions surveyed did not have instructional manuals relating to harassment. Most staff members had more than 10 years of work experience, however, 95 persons had less than 3 years of work experience at home-visit nursing stations. Furthermore, 105 persons had experienced episodes of harassment within the past year. Large number of respondents experienced “verbal sexual harassment”, “sexual harassment and assault”, and “verbal assault such as intimidation, unreasonable demands, and harassment.” Among the staff that experienced serious harassment, 17 persons scored over 25 points on the Impact of Event Scale (Revised), indicating high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder. Considering the increasing importance in home care in the future, these results suggest that stronger countermeasures are required at home-visit nursing stations to address harassment of nursing staff by patients and family members.
