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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0BMC Public Health

Workplace violence as a public health issue among environmental and occupational prevention technicians: a cross-sectional study in four Italian regions

  • Vito Cerabona1
  • Michele Sparano1
  • Luigi Fasanella2
  • Vincenzo Marcotrigiano3
  • Carmine Di Pasca4
  • Giuseppe Dipalo5
  • Emanuele Ciampa6
  • Damiano Fratarcangeli7
  • Francesco Novello8
  • Angelo Foresta9,10
  • Maurizio La Rocca11
  • Christian Napoli12
3 more authors
  • Tiziana Schilirò13
  • Corrado De Vito1
  • Chiara de Waure14
14 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
  2. 2Local Health Authority Cosenza, Cosenza, Italy
  3. 3Local Health Authority “ULSS 1 Dolomiti”, Belluno, Italy
  4. 4Local Health Authority “Basilicata”, Potenza, Italy
  5. 5Local Health Authority Bari, Bari, Italy
  6. 6Commission of the Register of Environmental and Occupational Prevention Technicians of the TSRM and PSTRP Order of Naples – Avellino – Benevento – Caserta, Caserta, Italy
  7. 7Local Health Authority “Roma 6”, Rome, Italy
  8. 8Local Health Authority “Città di Torino”, Turin, Italy
  9. 9Local Health Authority “Ragusa”, Ragusa, Italy
  10. 10Department of Health - Sicily Region, Palermo, Italy
  11. 11Commission of the National Register of Prevention Technicians, Rome, Italy
  12. 12Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
  13. 13Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
  14. 14Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Abstract

Background: Workplace violence is an increasing concern in the healthcare sector, affecting not only clinical health professionals but also non-clinical ones. Among these, Environmental and Occupational Prevention Technicians— who are responsible for public health surveillance and risk prevention —may frequently encounter high-conflict situations during their activities. However, evidence on their exposure to workplace violence remains limited. This study aims to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and associated risk factors of workplace violence among Prevention Technicians in Italy.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and July 2024 among all registered Environmental and Occupational Prevention Technicians in four Italian regions (Piedmont, Campania, Sicily, and Aosta Valley). Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, work setting, workplace violence, psychological impact, and organizational factors. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Poisson regression models with robust variance estimation were used to identify factors associated with workplace violence. Associations were reported as prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

Results: Out of 2,380 eligible professionals, 566 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 23.8%). Among public-sector employees, 37.5% reported workplace violence compared with 29.1% among private-sector employees and self-employed professionals. In the public sector, a higher prevalence of workplace violence was associated with age 41–50 years (PR1.55; 95% CI 1.06–2.26; p = 0.023), age 61–67 years (PR2.02; 95% CI 1.42–2.86; p < 0.001) compared with participants aged 22–30 years, and high perceived risk of workplace violence (PR 2.76; 95% CI 1.63–4.66; p < 0.001). Registration with professional boards in Southern Italy and the presence of workplace procedures were associated with a lower prevalence of workplace violence (PR 0.57; 95% CI 0.47–0.70; p < 0.001 and 0.70; 95% CI 0.52–0.95; p = 0.022, respectively). Among private-sector employees and self-employed professionals, high perceived risk was associated with a higher prevalence of workplace violence (PR 8.84; 95% CI 1.22–63.95; p = 0.031), as was the presence of workplace procedures (PR 2.92; 95% CI 1.69–5.03; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Workplace violence represents a relevant occupational issue also among Environmental and Occupational Prevention Technicians. The high prevalence observed and the associations identified with individual and organizational factors highlight the need for both further research to disentangle the causal relationship and potential preventive initiatives aimed at improving safety in non-clinical healthcare settings.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28609-1.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{cerabona2026workplace,
  title = {{Workplace violence as a public health issue among environmental and occupational prevention technicians: a cross-sectional study in four Italian regions}},
  author = {Vito Cerabona and Michele Sparano and Luigi Fasanella and Vincenzo Marcotrigiano and Carmine Di Pasca and Giuseppe Dipalo and Emanuele Ciampa and Damiano Fratarcangeli and Francesco Novello and Angelo Foresta and Maurizio La Rocca and Christian Napoli and Tiziana Schilirò and Corrado De Vito and Chiara de Waure},
  journal = {BMC Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28609-1},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28609-1},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Workplace violence as a public health issue among environmental and occupational prevention technicians: a cross-sectional study in four Italian regions
AU  - Vito Cerabona
AU  - Michele Sparano
AU  - Luigi Fasanella
AU  - Vincenzo Marcotrigiano
AU  - Carmine Di Pasca
AU  - Giuseppe Dipalo
AU  - Emanuele Ciampa
AU  - Damiano Fratarcangeli
AU  - Francesco Novello
AU  - Angelo Foresta
AU  - Maurizio La Rocca
AU  - Christian Napoli
AU  - Tiziana Schilirò
AU  - Corrado De Vito
AU  - Chiara de Waure
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/21
JO  - BMC Public Health
DO  - 10.1186/s12889-026-28609-1
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28609-1
AB  - Background: Workplace violence is an increasing concern in the healthcare sector, affecting not only clinical health professionals but also non-clinical ones. Among these, Environmental and Occupational Prevention Technicians— who are responsible for public health surveillance and risk prevention —may frequently encounter high-conflict situations during their activities. However, evidence on their exposure to workplace violence remains limited. This study aims to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and associated risk factors of workplace violence among Prevention Technicians in Italy.  Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and July 2024 among all registered Environmental and Occupational Prevention Technicians in four Italian regions (Piedmont, Campania, Sicily, and Aosta Valley). Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, work setting, workplace violence, psychological impact, and organizational factors. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Poisson regression models with robust variance estimation were used to identify factors associated with workplace violence. Associations were reported as prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).  Results: Out of 2,380 eligible professionals, 566 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 23.8%). Among public-sector employees, 37.5% reported workplace violence compared with 29.1% among private-sector employees and self-employed professionals. In the public sector, a higher prevalence of workplace violence was associated with age 41–50 years (PR1.55; 95% CI 1.06–2.26; p = 0.023), age 61–67 years (PR2.02; 95% CI 1.42–2.86; p < 0.001) compared with participants aged 22–30 years, and high perceived risk of workplace violence (PR 2.76; 95% CI 1.63–4.66; p < 0.001). Registration with professional boards in Southern Italy and the presence of workplace procedures were associated with a lower prevalence of workplace violence (PR 0.57; 95% CI 0.47–0.70; p < 0.001 and 0.70; 95% CI 0.52–0.95; p = 0.022, respectively). Among private-sector employees and self-employed professionals, high perceived risk was associated with a higher prevalence of workplace violence (PR 8.84; 95% CI 1.22–63.95; p = 0.031), as was the presence of workplace procedures (PR 2.92; 95% CI 1.69–5.03; p < 0.001).  Conclusions: Workplace violence represents a relevant occupational issue also among Environmental and Occupational Prevention Technicians. The high prevalence observed and the associations identified with individual and organizational factors highlight the need for both further research to disentangle the causal relationship and potential preventive initiatives aimed at improving safety in non-clinical healthcare settings.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28609-1.
SN  - 1471-2458
ER  -