InterventionS TO Prevent Sexual Harassment against nurses (StopSH)

Nurses working in acute care are often confronted with sexual harassment by patients. The StopSH project aims to develop effective, practical interventions for preventing and dealing with sexual harassment, in collaboration with nurses.

Key data

Description

Background

Patients’ sexual harassment against nurses is a worldwide phenomenon. Some forms occur on a daily to weekly basis. Despite the known high prevalence and its negative consequences, there is still a lack of evidence-based measures to prevent patients’ sexual harassment against nurses. Given the complexity of the problem, multidimensional interventions are required.

Aims

The main objective of the StopSH project is to develop an evidence-based, complex intervention package to prevent patients’ sexual harassment against nurses and minimize its negative consequences for the acute care sector in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

Method

This project is an intervention development study with a multimethod design. It involves the participative development and testing of a complex intervention package in three Swiss acute care organisations as practice partners. The project is carried out in four project phases:

scoping review,
quantitative problem and needs analysis,
participatory development phase,
feasibility assessment.

(Expected) Results

The StopSH project is expected to develop and test a complex intervention package for the prevention of patients’ sexual harassment against nurses. This intervention package is predicted to reduce the prevalence and negative effects of sexual harassment against nurses.