Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42426721›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2026

Violence prevention in primary care: a qualitative study of barriers and facilitators in general practice.

Stefanie Mache, Monika Bernburg, Annika Würtenberger, David A Groneberg, Volker Harth

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Stefanie MacheInstitute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459, Hamburg, Germany. s.mache@uke.de.
Monika BernburgInstitute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
Annika WürtenbergerInstitute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
David A GronebergInstitute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
Volker HarthInstitute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459, Hamburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealthcare staff in primary care settings are increasingly exposed to verbal and physical aggression. Although violence prevention measures are available, implementation remains inconsistent. This study aimed to explore facilitators and barriers to the use of violence prevention strategies, with a particular focus on the roles of staff and leadership in general practice.

methodsWe conducted a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with thirty physicians and medical assistants working in German general practices. The interview guide addressed perceptions of individual roles, leadership support, organisational structures, and existing preventive measures. We analysed the data using qualitative content analysis following Mayring.

resultsWe found that the use of violence prevention strategies is influenced by interrelated individual, organisational, and leadership factors. Key facilitators included strong leadership engagement, clear communication of expectations, structured staff training, and individual competencies such as resilience and prior experience. Major barriers included high workload, staff shortages, limited financial and time resources, and a lack of formalised procedures. Leadership emerged as a central determinant: visible commitment, active involvement, and resource provision by practice leaders enhanced staff adherence and confidence. In contrast, insufficient leadership prioritisation hindered the systematic use of preventive measures.

conclusionsEffective violence prevention in general practice requires a multi-level approach integrating individual, organisational, and leadership dimensions. Strengthening leadership engagement, improving resource allocation, developing practical guidelines, and embedding training into routine workflows are important for overcoming existing barriers. Future efforts should prioritise the development of a proactive prevention culture, with leadership playing a pivotal role in enabling and supporting staff in managing patient aggression. CLINICAL TRAIL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

General PracticePrimary Health CareViolenceWorkplace ViolenceAttitude of Health PersonnelFemaleGermanyHumansInterviews as TopicLeadershipMaleQualitative ResearchHealthcare staffImplementation barriersImplementation facilitatorsLeadership supportOccupational safetyRisk managementStaff trainingViolence preventionWorkplace violence

Identifiers

PMID42426721
PMCPMC13356792

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.