On 6 November 2025, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) published a case study highlighting several awareness campaigns implemented in Europe that aim to combat workplace violence against healthcare professionals and those working in the health and social care (HeSCare) sector.

Violence, a major occupational risk in the sector

Violence against healthcare workers is a problem reported in various European Union member states. It has negative consequences for both workers and for the healthcare system as a whole, particularly in terms of increased stress, reduced quality of care, decreased motivation and job satisfaction, and structural problems due to the fact that some professionals—particularly women—leave the profession, reduce their working hours, or opt for part-time work because of violence. (de Raeve et al., 2023)

In response to this phenomenon, several European countries have implemented awareness campaigns aimed at reducing aggression and promoting a culture of respect among patients, their families, and the general public.

Main conclusion

According to the EU-OSHA case study, awareness campaigns achieve their full potential when they are part of comprehensive, long-term strategies.

To be as effective as possible, they must therefore combine incentives for behavioral change (raising public awareness of respect for healthcare workers), structural interventions (improving safety in healthcare facilities), and policy reforms (introducing legislative protections for healthcare workers). (de Raeve et al., 2023; Wakefield et al., 2010).

This is the case, for example, with Italian Law No. 113 of 14 August 2020, “Provisions on the safety of healthcare and medical-social service professionals in the exercise of their duties,” which introduces a comprehensive set of measures to combat violence in the workplace.

These include, in particular:

• institutional information and communication initiatives on the importance of respect for healthcare professionals;
• the creation of a “national observatory on the safety of healthcare and social services professionals”;
• amendments to the Criminal Code (including the introduction of penalties and aggravating circumstances) for persons who cause serious or very serious injury to healthcare personnel in the course of or because of their duties;
• administrative sanctions for any person who engages in acts of violence, insults, assault, or harassment against these professionals;
• the establishment of specific security protocols with the police to ensure their rapid intervention.
  

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Similarly, the “Comprehensive Plan against Assaults” developed since 2008 by the Regional Health Department of Castile and León (Spain) implements a wide range of measures aimed at preventing violence at work against healthcare professionals.

Examples of awareness campaigns

Italy

In March 2023, the Italian Ministry of Health launched a national campaign entitled “Violence does not heal” (#laviolenzanoncura) consisting of posters, leaflets, and digital media. It highlights the counterproductive effect of attacking medical and social workers, using the slogan “Violence won’t make you feel better. They will.” (La violenza non ti farà stare meglio. Loro sì).

In addition, the National Federation of Medical Orders (FNOMCeO) has launched two awareness campaigns aimed at the general public with the aim of preventing acts of violence in emergency services. The first, entitled “While you wait” (Mentre aspetti), encourages patients to think about what goes on behind the doors of hospital departments, which would promote patience and empathy.

The second campaign highlights the universal, equitable, and supportive nature of the Italian National Health Service (SSN) with messages such as “Here, we treat everyone, without distinction” (Qui curiamo tutti, senza distinzioni) and “We work countless hours of overtime” (Facciamo ore e ore di straordinari, per questo).

Launched in 2017 and implemented again in 2024, the consumer association CODACONS also distributed stickers to be placed on hospital doors, some of which bore the message “Violence does not heal you. Today you hit me, and tomorrow I may have to treat you… think about it” (La violenza non ti cura. Oggi mi picchi e domani potrei doverti curare… pensaci).

Spain

In Spain, several regional governments have launched institutional awareness campaigns. While some emphasize the importance of respecting the work of healthcare professionals, others focus on the criminal consequences of assault.

This is the case, for example, in Ibiza, which has promoted the campaign entitled “It’s an offence… “ (Tiene delito…) on computer screensavers and in the corridors of healthcare facilities. It reminds the public that ”It is an offence to assault me,“ ”It is an offence to insult me,“ and ”It is an offence to threaten me.”

In addition, in February 2025, the Almería Council of Nurses (Andalusia) launched its own campaign entitled “No more assaults, protect those who care for you” (No más agresiones, protege a quien te cuida). This exclusively digital initiative consists of the publication of videos featuring real testimonials from nurses.

France

Some French hospital groups have run their own awareness campaigns. This is particularly true of Bordeaux University Hospital and its initiative launched in 2022, “Welcome to the zero violence zone,” (Bienvenue en zone zéro violence) which encouraged a culture of respect for healthcare professionals, particularly in certain high-risk units such as pediatrics. This campaign, which included posters, badges, and displays for reception desks, was widely publicized in newspapers, on social media, and on certain local television channels. In 2023, it won the “Hospital Communication” award from the French Hospital Federation.

At the national level, the French Ministry of Health launched a campaign in December 2023 consisting of posters and social media posts aimed at changing the behavior of violent patients by reminding them of the legal consequences of such acts and encouraging healthcare professionals who are victims of assault to systematically report incidents and take legal action via a dedicated support page.

Posters for the general public (hospitals, private medical practices, and pharmacies):

Posters specifically for healthcare professionals (staff break rooms):

Belgium

In February 2025, 26 Belgian hospitals launched the #SeeEachOther campaign under the slogan “Your smile does good,” which encourages patients, visitors, and staff to adopt positive behaviors. Banners, posters, and video advertisements in hospital lobbies show scenarios encouraging everyone to “look out for each other” and promote mutual respect and courtesy. This campaign was initiated following a survey showing that 85% of hospital staff had been victims of aggression and that 79% felt that these incidents were becoming more frequent.

What are the results?

Assessing the impact of these awareness campaigns remains complex due to the limited amount of feedback or post-hoc surveys. Nevertheless, several international studies show the overall positive effect of awareness campaigns, which translate into cultural and behavioral changes (Wakefield et al., 2010; Lian & Xuefan., 2021) .

In Europe, a study by the European Federation of Nurses’ Associations (EFN) highlights the essential role of these initiatives in reducing workplace violence against nurses. According to this study, these campaigns inform the public about the challenges faced by nurses and can influence the development and implementation of policies to protect them. Several qualitative interviews with practitioners show that they contribute positively to raising awareness of the problem and bringing about cultural change among citizens.

This cultural change also encourages healthcare professionals to report violent behavior and prompts institutions to take action. Thus, more frequent reporting may explain, in the short term, the increase in reported incidents of violence in various countries, such as Spain, where the number of recorded assaults rose from 1,629 in 2021 to 2,840 in 2023.

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