The effect of aggression management training programmes for nursing staff and students working in an acute hospital setting. A narrative review of current literature

Heckemann, B., Zeller, A., Hahn, S. orcid iconORCID: 0000-0002-2697-2014, Dassen, T., Schols, J.M.G.A. and Halfens, R.J.G. (2014) The effect of aggression management training programmes for nursing staff and students working in an acute hospital setting. A narrative review of current literature. Nurse Education Today, 35 (1). pp. 212-219. ISSN 0260-6917

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2014.08.003

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Patient aggression is a longstanding problem in general hospital nursing. Staff training is recommended to tackle workplace aggression originating from patients or visitors, yet evidence on training effects is scarce.
AIMS:
To review and collate current research evidence on the effect of aggression management training for nurses and nursing students working in general hospitals, and to derive recommendations for further research.
DESIGN:
Systematic, narrative review.
DATA SOURCES:
Embase, MEDLINE, the Cochrane library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, pubmed, psycArticles, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection were searched for articles evaluating training programs for staff and students in acute hospital adult nursing in a 'before/after' design. Studies published between January 2000 and September 2011 in English, French or German were eligible of inclusion.
REVIEW METHODS:
The methodological quality of included studies was assessed with the 'Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies'. Main outcomes i.e. attitudes, confidence, skills and knowledge were collated.
RESULTS:
Nine studies were included. Two had a weak, six a moderate, and one a strong study design. All studies reported increased confidence, improved attitude, skills, and knowledge about risk factors post training. There was no significant change in incidence of patient aggression.
CONCLUSION:
Our findings corroborate findings of reviews on training in mental health care, which point to a lack of high quality research. Training does not reduce the incidence of aggressive acts. Aggression needs to be tackled at an organizational level.


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