"Because we feel, we have to do something" - Barriers in the prevention of violence and key areas requiring action

In recent years, politics and society have shown an increasing interest in the prevention of violence. Despite the scientific studies and prevention programs that have been conducted over the past few years, there is no indication that the prevalence of violence in elderly care is falling. A high number of unreported cases may still be assumed. The present study examined the barriers in transferring research knowledge into practice. Furthermore, it dealt with the requirements of an interventional approach which is practical and which effectively addresses the barriers. The data were collected in qualitative interviews (n = 20) and analyzed by using qualitative content analysis. The study revealed uncertainties in dealing with violence. The institutions lacked a clear definition of violence and the respondents did not have a clear concept of when and where violence starts. A high proportion of the respondents stated that violence occurred in various forms in daily nursing care but that there were no specific strategies for action. Only very few cases were documented at all. Moreover, a lack of practical further training was reported. The visibility of these barriers opens up new approaches to developing preventive measures which work in practice. A common definition of violence, clear and binding standards, regular training and education measures are central to the prevention of violence in care.