Exploring the Current Practices of Universities Regarding the Risk of Violence Towards Undergraduate Students on Clinical Placements: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Healthcare students may experience violence from patients and bystanders while undertaking clinical placements. There is ambiguity around responsibility and strategies used to support students before, during and after incidents. A scoping review was conducted of peer reviewed publications (CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Web of Science) and grey literature (Open Grey, WONDER, WorldCat, Trove, Google Scholar). Twenty-nine studies were identified. Studies varied in the way responsibility for risks was shared between students, clinical facilitators, placement providers and universities. Five studies discussed underreporting of incidents as a known issue. Students on clinical placement who experience violence from patients or bystanders face unique challenges in identifying where to report or find support. While universities are generally aware of the risks of violence towards students undertaking placements there is no consensus between education and placement providers on responsibility for reducing violence or supporting students following incidents.