Systematic review estimates 77.4% global prevalence of workplace violence against emergency nurses

A systematic review and meta-analysis estimated that 77.4% of emergency nurses across 17 countries had experienced workplace violence, with a 95% confidence interval of 72.3% to 82.1%. The analysis included 29 observational studies involving 20,847 emergency nurses and examined physical, verbal or psychological, and sexual violence. Because the supplied report is an early accepted version of an article that remains subject to further edits, these findings are summarized from its abstract.

Verbal or psychological violence was the most commonly reported form, with a pooled prevalence of 77.0% (95% CI, 71.8%–81.8%). Physical assault was reported by a pooled 38.2% (95% CI, 32.1%–44.6%), while sexual harassment was reported by 18.5% (95% CI, 14.2%–23.7%). Patients were identified as the main perpetrators in 52% of cases and patients’ relatives in 27%. The estimated prevalence was highest in Asia at 82.1% and in North America at 79.3%; these geographic estimates do not by themselves establish a change over time.

Researchers searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science from each database’s start through April 2026 for observational studies reporting workplace violence against emergency nurses. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data and assessed quality using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Pooled prevalence was calculated with a random-effects meta-analysis, with 95% confidence intervals, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Evidence certainty was evaluated with the GRADE approach.

The review identified emergency-department overcrowding, long wait times and inadequate security infrastructure as key risk factors. Studies also recorded psychological distress, professional burnout and high turnover intention among affected nurses, although the abstract does not provide the effect sizes or establish that workplace violence caused these outcomes. The evidence is limited to observational studies, and the abstract does not report the magnitude or statistical significance of heterogeneity, the certainty ratings for individual findings, publication-bias results or detailed study-level quality assessments. The authors called for multi-level prevention strategies, including stronger security measures, zero-tolerance policies and improved reporting systems, to address violence in emergency departments and support the nursing workforce and emergency care.

Subject of Research: Prevalence, perpetrators and risk factors of workplace violence against emergency nurses worldwide

Article Title: Global prevalence of workplace violence against emergency nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Article References: Ma, D., Xie, W., He, J., Tan, D., Zhang, L., Yan, C., Sohaib, M., & Hu, S. (2026). Global prevalence of workplace violence against emergency nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-026-05365-6

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12912-026-05365-6

Keywords: emergency nursing, workplace violence, systematic review, meta-analysis, verbal violence, physical assault, sexual harassment, healthcare workers, burnout, patient safety, Global, prevalence