Trends in workplace violence for health care occupations and facilities over the last 10 years

Abstract

Issues of workplace violence (WPV) in health care have garnered increasing attention due to the impact on the health care worker’s well-being and retention. Yet, our understanding of whether and how WPV rates vary between health care facilities and occupations is limited, particularly information on growth over time. This information is needed to develop and target policies and interventions toward health care workers and settings most at risk. We examined trends in WPV among health care occupations and facilities over the past decade (2011–2021/2022), utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illness. Findings reveal a 30% increase in WPV across all health care facility types between 2011 and 2021/2022; however, there was no difference in the average rate of WPV for health care occupations over the same time period. The increase in WPV for health care facilities began long before the pandemic, suggesting larger systemic issues are likely driving WPV. Existing state and organizational efforts aim to mitigate WPV, yet targeted interventions are crucial. Understanding variations across occupations and facilities will inform tailored strategies to safeguard health care workers.