Risk management of aggressive behaviors in mental health units for adolescents: a scoping review protocol

Aim: The aim of this review is to map the existing research on the interventions carried out by nurses in managing the risk of aggressive behavior in adolescent healthcare units. Introduction: Research on aggressive behaviors in healthcare units for adolescents with mental illness is considered a neglected area. These behaviors have an impact on staff, patients and on the therapeutic millieu, requiring interventions by the nursing staff for their risk management, in order to mitigate the adverse consequences they generate on safety and quality of care. Objective: The aim of this review is to map the existing research on the interventions carried out by nurses in managing the risk of aggressive behavior in adolescent health units. Methods: A scoping review will be conducted regarding the methodological framework proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The search strategy will be refined to identify pertinent studies was performed accordingly to each database/repository. Titles and abstracts of published and unpublished studies will be assessed in line with the eligibility criteria. The data selection, extraction and analysis process will be performed by three independent reviewers. Results: This scoping review protocol will include quantitative, qualitative and mixed method studies. Primary studies, systematic reviews, dissertations, opinion texts and gray literature will be considered regarding the three steps defined by JBI for scoping reviews. Conclusions: This review incorporate knowledge about nursing interventions for risk management of aggressive behaviors, focused in prevention, early intervention, but also programs with improved outcomes to the patient, staff and therapeutic milieu, promoting less coercive interventions. Keywords: adolescent; aggression; healthcare units; mental illness; nursing; Protocol review.