Workplace violence in primary health care workers: an integrative review

Workplace violence is an important and growing public health problem in primary health care, compromising both the quality of care and workers’ health. However, the available evidence at this level of care remains limited. The objective of this article is to identify and summarize the existing evidence on workplace violence among primary health care workers, considering its prevalence, associated factors, consequences, and preventive measures. An integrative review was conducted using the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, and Virtual Health Library databases. Quantitative and qualitative studies published in the last 5 years in Spanish, English, or Portuguese were included. Fourteen articles were analyzed. The results showed that verbal workplace violence was the most prevalent form. The most relevant associated factors were being female, working as a nurse or nursing technician, having direct contact with patients, and working shifts. Psychological consequences included feelings of guilt, anxiety, and doubts about professional competence; organizational consequences included increased staff turnover and absenteeism. Preventive measures implemented were scarce and mainly focused on surveillance and communication skills training. The review concludes that verbal workplace violence is highly prevalent and driven by individual, structural, and organizational factors. Its consequences affect both psychological well-being and organizational dynamics, and a substantial gap persists regarding preventive measures.