Associate Professor Hila Dafny has a PhD in Nursing from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. Her doctoral research has contributed to the overall body of knowledge on workplace violence within the healthcare sector, as it examines nurses' perceptions of physical and verbal violence perpetrated by patients and visitors, and the ensuing impact on the nurses, including their ability to care for patients. The research also investigated nurses' perceptions of current workplace violence strategies and support services at a regional Queensland Hospital. Hila received Magna Cum Laude in Nursing from Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and also holds a Master's in Public Health and Community Medicine from the same institution.

Dr Dafny received the Top-Cited Article award, and her research on workplace violence, which she led, has been recognised as one of the top 10 most-cited papers published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, highlighting its impact on Research, Community and Nursing.

Dr Dafny developed a strong publication record (13 H-index) in workplace violence, burnout and wellbeing, receiving international recognition as the international Top-Cited Article award for the top 10 most-cited papers and the most downloaded paper published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing (top 10% Q1) from John Wiley, demonstrating the impact of my study on research, nursing and communities. 

In 2024, Dr Dafny received recognition for the Most Downloaded Paper in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, and in 2025, she was awarded the National Industry PhD Program (NIPHD) – Industry Researcher Award. 

Over 50 publications, 46% were published as first author; 90% were published in Q1 journals, of which 45% were in the top 10% of Scopus journals by CiteScore. In a balanced position (teaching and research), Dr Dafny have contributed to 50 publications, and according to ResearchGate, her research interest score is higher than 97% of ResearchGate members who first published in 2020. 

HDR Supervision: Eligible to supervise Master's and PhD students

Dr Dafny demonstrate a growing influence in her field of workplace violence and wellbeing through presentations at international conferences and the supervision (mainly as a principal supervisor) of 3 PhD and 4 Master's students, with 2 PhD and 5 Master's students completing their studies.

HDR Supervisory Interests:

• Workplace violence
• Critical care nursing
• Qualitative research
• Mixed-method research
• Wellbeing
• Clinical education
• Domestic violence
• Critical care nursing profession
• Cardiac care
• Disability and community rehabilitation
• Stroke
• Cardiovascular

Prizes:

1. Recognition for the Most Downloaded Paper in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Bulto, L. (Recipient), Roseleur, J. (Recipient), Noonan, S. (Recipient), Pinero de Plaza, M. A. (Recipient), Champion, S. (Recipient), Dafny, H. (Recipient), Pearson, V. (Recipient), Nesbitt, K. (Recipient), Gebremichael, L. (Recipient), Beleigoli, A. (Recipient), Gulyani, A. (Recipient), Schultz, T. (Recipient), Hines, S. (Recipient), Clark, R. (Recipient) & Hendriks, J. (Recipient), 4 Jun 2024.
2. Recognition for the top 10 most-cited papers published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing. Dafny, H. (Recipient), McCloud, C. (Recipient), Pearson, V. (Recipient), Brown, S. (Recipient), Phillips, C. (Recipient), Waheed, N. (Recipient), Freeling, M. (Recipient), Parry, Y. (Recipient), & Champion, S. (Recipient), 20 Mar 2025
3. The top Viewed Article Award: the 10% of most-viewed papers published by JCN. Dafny, H. (Recipient), 16 Apr 2025.

Active research areas in Nursing, Health Professions and Medicine: 

1. Arrhythmia
2. Atrial Fibrillation
3. Blood Pressure
4. Burnout
5. Cardiovascular Disease
6. Clinical Effectiveness
7. Clinical Practice
8. Concept Analysis
9. Critical Appraisal
10. Cross-Sectional Study
11. Data Extraction
12. Diastolic Blood Pressure
13. Emergency Ward
14. Gerontology
15. Health Care Utilisation
16. Health Outcomes
17. Healthcare System
18. Heart Arrhythmia
19. Heart Rehabilitation
20. Independent Reviewer
21. Intensive Care
22. Medical rehabilitation
23. Mental Health
24. Meta Analysis
25. Mixed Methods
26. Nurses
27. Nursing Management
28. Nursing Student
29. Patient-Reported Outcome
30. Physical Activity
31. Practice Guideline
32. Public Health Service
33. Public Hospital
34. Qualitative Research
35. Qualitative Study
36. Quality of Life
37. Quality of Life Measure
38. Randomised Controlled Trial
39. Rehabilitation Engineering
40. Registered Nurse
41. Secondary Prevention
42. Self-Care
43. Socioeconomic Status
44. Systematic Review
45. Telehealth
46. Thematic Analysis
47. Umbrella Review

Research Output (publications): 

2025:

1. Burnout in physiotherapists and occupational therapists working in the Australian community disability sector under the national disability insurance scheme: a qualitative study. Currie, M. & Dafny, H. A., 2025, In: Disability and Rehabilitation. 47, 23, p. 6122-6134 13 p.
2. Effectiveness of alternative exercises in cardiac rehabilitation for program completion and outcomes in women with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Suebkinorn, O., Ramos, J. S., Grace, S. L., Gebremichael, L. G., Bulamu, N. B., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Dafny, H. A., Pearson, V., Bulto, L. N., Chen, R. T., Rattanakanokchai, S., Ghisi, G. L. M., Marin, T., Nesbitt, K., Gulyani, A., Hines, S., Dalleck, L. C., Hendriks, J. M., Clark, R. A. & Beleigoli, A., Jun 2025, In: JBI evidence synthesis. 23, 6, p. 1041-1076 36 p.
3. Effectiveness of interventions for the prevention or management of workplace violence in student nurses during clinical placement: A systematic review.  Dafny, H. A., Waheed, N., Cabilan, C. J., Johnston, S., Pearson, V., Adams, A. M., Phillips, C., Brown, S., & McCloud, C., Mar 2025, In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 81, 3, p. 1142-1171 30 p.
4. Patient Agitation in the Intensive Care Unit: A Concept Analysis.  Adams, A. M. N., Chamberlain, D., Brun Thorup, C., Maiden, M. J., Waite, C., Dafny, H. A., Bruce, K. & Conroy, T., 25 Apr 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 13 p.
5. Racism during clinical placement: the perpetrators, impact, advocating and reporting. Dafny, H., Snaith, N., McCloud, C., Waheed, N., Cooper, P. & Champion, S., Sept 2025, In: Nursing Ethics. 32, 6, p. 1886-1899 14 p.
6. Stakeholders' Actions, Responsibility and Limitations in Support of Nursing Students Experiencing Workplace Violence During Clinical Placement: The Clinical Facilitators View. Dafny, H. A., Snaith, N., Cooper, P., Waheed, N., Champion, S., & McCloud, C., Jun 2025,  Journal of Clinical Nursing. 34, 6, p. 2348-2359 12 p.
7. Telehealth as a Care Solution for Homebound People: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Healthcare Utilisation, Quality of Life, and Well-Being Outcomes. Pinero de Plaza, D. M. A., Gulyani, A., Bulto, L. N., Allande Cusso, R., Pearson, V., Lange, B., Marin, T., Gebremichael, L., Brown, S., Dafny, H., Sajeev, S., Bulamu, N., Beleigoli, A., Nesbitt, K., McMillan, P., Clark, R., Tieu, M., Kitson, A., Champion, S. & Hines, S. & 1 others, , 2025, In: Health and Social Care in The Community. 2025, 32 p., 7224151.
8. The Caring Life Course Theory: Opening new frontiers in care—A cardiac rehabilitation example. Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Hutchinson, C., Beleigoli, A., Tieu, M., Lawless, M., Conroy, T., Feo, R., Clark, R. A., Dafny, H., McMillan, P., Allande-Cussó, R., & Kitson, A. A., Aug 2025, In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 81, 8, p. 5163-5180 18 p.
9. The effectiveness of interactive cardiac rehabilitation web applications versus usual care on programme completion in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Nesbitt, K., Champion, S., Pearson, V., Gebremichael, L. G., Dafny, H., Ramos, J. S., Suebkinorn, O., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Gulyani, A., Du, H., Clark, R. A., Beleigoli, A. & On behalf of the NHMRC Country Heart Attack Prevention (CHAP). Partnership Project Team, Jun 2025, In: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. 31, 4, p. 475-486 12 p.
10. The effects of workplace violence on nursing students from the perspectives of clinical facilitators or preceptors. Dafny, H. A., Snaith, N., Cooper, P., Waheed, N., McCloud, C. & Champion, S., Jan 2025, In: Journal of Professional Nursing. 56, p. 104-112 9 p.
11. What Do Nurses Think of Their Role in the Hospital's Restorative Care and Rehabilitation Services for Older Patients? A Qualitative Systematic Review. Adhikari, R., Dafny, H. A., Bellis, A. D., Parry, Y. K. & Iyangbe, U. G., Feb 2025, In: Journal of Clinical Nursing. 34, 2, p. 345-381 37 p.
12. “Humans Don’t Do That to People”: A Qualitative Study of the Experience of Paramedics Providing Care to a Patient Who Has Just Allegedly Committed a Violent Crime. McCormick, A. J., Pearce, J. W. & Dafny, H. A., 25 Sept 2025, (E-pub ahead of print). In: Prehospital Emergency Care. 10 p.

2024: 

13. Australian nursing students' experiences of workplace violence during clinical placement: A cross-sectional study. Johnston, S., Fox, A., Patterson, S., Jones, R., Dafny, H., Pich, J., & Duff, J., Dec 2024, In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. 80, 12, p. 4933-4945 13 p.
14. Clinical effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation and barriers to completion in patients of low socioeconomic status in rural areas: A mixed-methods study. Beleigoli, A., Dafny, H. A., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Hutchinson, C., Marin, T., Ramos, J. S., Suebkinorn, O., Gebremichael, L. G., Bulamu, N. B., Keech, W., Ludlow, M., Hendriks, J., Versace, V. & Clark, R. A., Jun 2024, In: Clinical Rehabilitation. 38, 6, p. 837-854 18 p.
15. Clinical Facilitators' Perceptions of Factors Contributing to Nursing Students' Experience of Workplace Violence. Dafny, H. A., Waheed, N., Snaith, N., Cooper, P., Champion, S., Pront, L. & McCloud, C., Oct 2024, In: The Journal of Nursing Education. 63, 10, p. 671-678 8 p.
16. Effectiveness of alternative vs traditional exercises on cardiac rehabilitation program utilisation in women with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review protocol. Suebkinorn, O., Ramos, J. S., Grace, S. L., Gebremichael, L. G., Bulamu, N., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Dafny, H. A., Pearson, V., Hines, S., Dalleck, L. C., Coombes, J. S., Hendriks, J. M., Clark, R. A., & Beleigoli, A., Feb 2024, In: JBI Evidence Synthesis. 22, 2, p. 281-291 11 p.
17. Effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation programs on medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Gebremichael, L. G., Champion, S., Nesbitt, K., Pearson, V., Bulamu, N. B., Dafny, H. A., Sajeev, S., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Ramos, J. S., Suebkinorn, O., Gulyani, A., Bulto, L. N., Beleigoli, A., Hendriks, J. M., Hines, S., Clark, R. A. & On behalf of the NHMRC CHAP Project Team, Mar 2024, In: International Journal of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention. 20, 8 p., 200229.
18. Effectiveness of nurse-led interventions versus usual care to manage hypertension and lifestyle behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bulto, L. N., Roseleur, J., Noonan, S., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Champion, S., Dafny, H. A., Pearson, V., Nesbitt, K., Gebremichael, L. G., Beleigoli, A., Schultz, T., Hines, S., Clark, R. A. & Hendriks, J. M., 1 Jan 2024, In: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 23, 1, p. 21-32 12 p.
19. Exploring Patient Agitation in Intensive Care Units: A Concept Analysis. Adams, A. M. N., Chamberlain, D., Thorup, C. B., Maiden, M., Waite, C., Dafny, H. & Conroy, T., 15 Aug 2024, p. 83. 1 p.
20. Feasibility and acceptability of a realist-informed individualised psychosocial intervention to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 burnout in critical care healthcare professionals. Adnan, N. B. B., Dafny, H. A., Baldwin, C., Beccaria, G. & Chamberlain, D., Jun 2024, In: Journal of Critical Care. 81, p. 6-7 2 p., 154576.
21. Interventions to prevent or manage workplace violence against student nurses during clinical placement: a systematic review protocol. Dafny, H. A., McCloud, C., Champion, S., Pearson, V., Hines, S., Brown, S., Phillips, C., Waheed, N., Cabilan, C. J. & Johnston, S., May 2024, In: JBI evidence synthesis. 22, 5, p. 881-888 8 p.
22. Measurement properties of utility-based health-related quality of life measures in cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs: a systematic review. Bulamu, N. B., Gebremichael, L. G., Hines, S., Mpundu-Kaambwa, C., Pearson, V., Dafny, H. A., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Beleigoli, A., Kaambwa, B., Hendriks, J. M. & Clark, R. A., Sept 2024, In: Quality of Life Research. 33, 9, p. 2299-2320 22 p.
23. Strengthening Care Networks: Applying Caring Life Course Theory to Enhance Cardiac Rehabilitation through Social Network Analysis. Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Hutchinson, C., Beleigoli, A., Tieu, M., Lawless, M., Conroy, T., Feo, R., Clark, R. A., Dafny, H., McMillan, P., Allande Cusso, R. & Kitson, A., Nov 2024, p. 24. 1 p.
24. The first year of private practice, new graduate physiotherapists are highly engaged and satisfied but edging toward burnout. Evans, K., Papinniemi, A., Vuvan, V., Nicholson, V., Dafny, H., Levy, T. & Chipchase, L., 2024, In: Physiotherapy Theory and Practice: An International Journal of Physiotherapy. 40, 2, p. 262-275 14 p.
25. ‘I Feel Disempowered Because I Could Not Do Anything’: Clinical Facilitators' Perception of Violence Towards Nursing Students During Clinical Placement. Dafny, H. A., Cooper, P., Waheed, N., Champion, S., Mccloud, C., Snaith, N. & Pront, L., Dec 2024, In: Nursing Open. 11, 12, 14 p., e70125.

2023:

26. Cardiac rehabilitation, physical activity, and the effectiveness of activity monitoring devices on cardiovascular patients: an umbrella review of systematic reviews. Dafny, H. A., Champion, S., Gebremichael, L. G., Pearson, V., Hendriks, J. M., Clark, R. A., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Gulyani, A., Hines, S., & Beleigoli, A., Jun 2023, In: European heart journal. Quality of care & clinical outcomes. 9, 4, p. 323-330 8 p.
27. Clinical effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation utilisation and barriers to its completion among patients of low socioeconomic status living in rural areas: a mixed methods study. On behalf of the NHMRC CHAP Project Team, Beleigoli, A., Dafny, H., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Hutchinson, C., Marin, T., Ramos, J., Suebkinorn, O., Gebremichael, L., Bulamu, N. B., Keech, W., Ludlow, M., Hendriks, J., Vincent, V. L. & Clark, R. A., 3 Nov 2023, p. 1. 1 p.
28. COVID-19 and tinnitus: an initiative to improve tinnitus care. Mui, B., Leong, N., Keil, B., Domingo, D., Dafny, H. A., Manchaiah, V., Gopinath, B., Muzaffar, J., Chen, J., Bidargaddi, N., Timmer, B. H. B., Vitkovic, J., Esterman, A., & Shekhawat, G. S., 2023, In: International Journal of Audiology. 62, 9, p. 826-834 9 p.
29. Effectiveness of nurse-led interventions to manage hypertension and lifestyle behaviour effectively: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bulto, L., Roseleur, J., Noonan, S., Pinero de Plaza, A., Champion, S., Dafny, H. A., Pearson, V., Nesbitt, K., Gebremichael, L., Beleigoli, A., Schultz, T., Hines, S., Clark, R. & Hendriks, J., Jun 2023, In: EP Europace. 25, Supplement 1, p. i1247 1 p.
30. High-risk antenatal women's perceptions of dietitian appointments and information. Lang, M. J., Dafny, H. A., Fergusson, L. & Brömdal, A. C. G., Aug 2023, In: Heliyon. 9, 8, 11 p., e18106.
31. Is this the solution to wellbeing and burnout management for the critical care workforce? A parallel, interventional, feasibility and realist informed pilot randomized control trial protocol. Adnan, N. B. B., Dafny, H. A., Baldwin, C., Beccaria, G. & Chamberlain, D., 27 Apr 2023, In: PLoS One. 18, 4, 16 p., e0285038.
32. Measurement properties of utility-based health-related quality-of-life measures in cardiac rehabilitation: a systematic review protocol. Bulamu, N. B., Hines, S., Gebremichael, L., Mpundu-Kaambwa, C., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Dafny, H., Beleigoli, A., Kaambwa, B., Hendriks, J. & Clark, R., Oct 2023, In: JBI Evidence Synthesis. 21, 10, p. 2082-2091 10 p.
33. Nurse-Led Interventions Versus Usual Care to Manage Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Bulto, L., Roseleur, J., Noonan, S., Pinero de Plaza, M., Champion, S., Dafny, H., Pearson, V., Nesbitt, K., Gebremichael, L., Beleigoli, A., Schultz, T., Hines, S., Clark, R., & Hendriks, J., Jul 2023, In: Heart, Lung and Circulation. 32, Suppl. 3, p. S330 1 p., 484.
34. Nursing students' experience of workplace violence in clinical practice: A qualitative systematic review. Dafny, H. A., McCloud, C., Pearson, V., Brown, S., Phillips, C., Waheed, N., Freeling, M., Parry, Y. K. & Champion, S., Sept 2023, In: Journal of Clinical Nursing. 32, 17-18, p. 6136-6164 29.
35. Nursing students’ experiences of workplace violence in clinical practice: a qualitative systematic review protocol. Dafny, H. A., Champion, S., Pearson, V. & Brown, S., May 2023, In: JBI Evidence Synthesis. 21, 5, p. 1058-1063 6 p.

2022: 

36. ACH Group Everybody’s Game Project Evaluation Report. Dafny, H., Tran, A., Champion, S., Gordon, S. & Rosso, E., 10 Jun 2022, Bedford Park, South Australia: Flinders University. 93 p.
37. Australian nurses’ perceptions about workplace violence management, strategies and support services. Dafny, H. A., Beccaria, G. & Muller, A., Sept 2022, In: Journal of Nursing Management. 30, 6, p. 1629-1638 10 p.
38. Australian nurses’ suggestions for the management of violence in the workplace: ‘The people who make the policy are not the people on the floor’. Dafny, H. A. & Muller, A., Sept 2022, In: Journal of Nursing Management. 30, 6, p. 1454-1461 8 p.
39. Do nurses receive any support following incidents of workplace violence? A qualitative study. Dafny, H., Chamberlain, D., Parry, Y. K. & Beccaria, G., Sept 2022, In: Journal of Nursing Management. 30, 6, p. 1843-1851 9 p.
40. Effectiveness of activity-monitoring devices in patients with cardiovascular disease participating in cardiac rehabilitation programs: An umbrella review protocol. Dafny, H., Champion, S., Gebremichael, L., Pearson, V., Nesbitt, K., Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Bulto, L., Noonan, S., Hines, S., Hendriks, J., Clark, R., & Beleigoli, A., 1 Nov 2022, In: JBI evidence synthesis. 20, 11, p. 2806-2814 9.
41. Effectiveness of telehealth versus standard care on health care utilisation, health-related quality of life, and well-being in homebound populations: a systematic review protocol. Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Beleigoli, A., Brown, S., Bulto, L., Gebremichael, L., Nesbitt, K., Tieu, M., Pearson, V., Noonan, S., McMillan, P., Clark, R., Hines, S., Kitson, A., Champion, S., Dafny, H. & Hendriks, J., 1 Nov 2022, In: JBI evidence synthesis. 20, 11, p. 2734-2742 9 p.
42. ENLIGHTEN: homEbouNd peopLe agInG witH TEchNology: Holding the suspension bridge of ongoing high-quality care. Pinero de Plaza, M. A., Dafny, H., Lawless, M., McMillan, P., Buchanan, R., Leon, Z., Beleigoli, A., Archibald, M., Mudd, A., Lange, B., Tieu, M., Feo, R., Visvanathan, R., Clark, R., Hendriks, J., Hallmann, G., Del Fante, P., Morton, E., Hunter, S. C. & Kitson, A., 22 Nov 2022.
43. Supporting new graduate physiotherapists in their first year of private practice with a structured professional development program: a qualitative study. Chipchase, L., Papinniemi, A., Dafny, H., Levy, T. & Evans, K., Feb 2022, In: Musculoskeletal Science and Practice. 57, 6 p., 102498.
44. What are the essential components to implement individual-focused interventions for well-being and burnout in critical care healthcare professionals? A realist expert opinion. Adnan, N. B. B., Baldwin, C., Dafny, H. A. & Chamberlain, D., 28 Sept 2022, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 13, 12 p., 991946.
45. What are the solutions for well-being and burnout for healthcare professionals? An umbrella realist review of learnings of individual-focused interventions for critical care. Adnan, N. B. B., Dafny, H. A., Baldwin, C., Jakimowitz, S., Chalmers, D., Aroury, A. M. A. & Chamberlain, D., 8 Sept 2022, In: BMJ Open. 12, 9, 12 p., e060973.

2020: 

46. I do not even tell my partner: Nurses’ perceptions of verbal and physical violence against nurses working in a regional hospital. Dafny, H. & Beccaria, G., Sept 2020, In: Journal of Clinical Nursing. 29, 17-18, p. 3336-3348 13.

2016: 

47. The perceptions of nurses regarding violence, strategies and support in a regional Queensland Hospital, University of Southern Queensland. Dafny, H., 2016, 302 p.