scholarly journals Manifestations of verbal and physical violence towards doctors: a comparison between hospital and community doctors

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamar Nevo ◽  
Roni Peleg ◽  
Daniel M. Kaplan ◽  
Tamar Freud
Keyword(s):  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Hospital Doctors ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Background Healthcare workers, in the hospital and in community clinics, are frequently exposed to verbal and physical abuse that can lead to frustration and despair. This study’s objectives were to evaluate trends in violence towards hospital and community doctors in the Negev region of Israel and to compare them to the results of a previous 2005 study. Methods A convenience sample of doctors in the hospital and in the community completed anonymous questionnaires on previous exposure to work place violence and their attitudes to it. The data were collected in 2017. Results One hundred forty-five doctors participated in the study, of who 63 were hospital doctors and 82 were community doctors. Fifty nine percent of the doctors reported that they experienced at least one incident of verbal abuse over the previous year and 9% were exposed to physical abuse, compared to 56 and 9%, respectively, in the previous study. More hospital doctors (58.7%) were exposed to verbal abuse on the part of family members than community doctors (35.8%) (P = 0.007). The most common reason for a violent outbreak was long waiting times, followed by dissatisfaction with treatment, both consistent with the findings in the previous study. Seventy one percent said that violence was a major problem for doctors. The majority (73.9%) had not participated in a workshop or other training for preventing workplace violence or coping with it, an improvement over the 83% who reported not receiving any training in the previous study. Conclusions Workplace violence is a major issue, which affects hospital and community physicians alike. There is a rise in the number of doctors who have undergone training in this area, although the majority have yet to receive formal training.

scholarly journals Prevalence of workplace violence against healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 927-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianxin Liu ◽  
Yong Gan ◽  
Heng Jiang ◽  
Liqing Li ◽  
Robyn Dwyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
The Past ◽  
Nurses And Physicians ◽  
Health Institutions

We aim to quantitatively synthesise available epidemiological evidence on the prevalence rates of workplace violence (WPV) by patients and visitors against healthcare workers. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science from their inception to October 2018, as well as the reference lists of all included studies. Two authors independently assessed studies for inclusion. Data were double-extracted and discrepancies were resolved by discussion. The overall percentage of healthcare worker encounters resulting in the experience of WPV was estimated using random-effects meta-analysis. The heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Differences by study-level characteristics were estimated using subgroup analysis and meta-regression. We included 253 eligible studies (with a total of 331 544 participants). Of these participants, 61.9% (95% CI 56.1% to 67.6%) reported exposure to any form of WPV, 42.5% (95% CI 38.9% to 46.0%) reported exposure to non-physical violence, and 24.4% (95% CI 22.4% to 26.4%) reported experiencing physical violence in the past year. Verbal abuse (57.6%; 95% CI 51.8% to 63.4%) was the most common form of non-physical violence, followed by threats (33.2%; 95% CI 27.5% to 38.9%) and sexual harassment (12.4%; 95% CI 10.6% to 14.2%). The proportion of WPV exposure differed greatly across countries, study location, practice settings, work schedules and occupation. In this systematic review, the prevalence of WPV against healthcare workers is high, especially in Asian and North American countries, psychiatric and emergency department settings, and among nurses and physicians. There is a need for governments, policymakers and health institutions to take actions to address WPV towards healthcare professionals globally.

Associations Between Workplace Violence, Mental Health, and Physical Health among Korean Workers: The Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 216507992110238
Author(s):  
Hae Ran Kim
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Shift Work ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Safety Education ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) is a global public health problem and a threat to the health of Korean workers. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of WPV and its association with mental and physical health among Korean workers. Methods: Data obtained for 50,205 respondents to the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey were utilized for this study. Verbal abuse, threats, physical violence, and sexual harassment were assessed individually and as a composite for “any WPV.” Workers were characterized by education, income, shift work status, access to a health and safety education program, work sector and overall health. Descriptive analyses and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the prevalence of WPV and its association with mental and physical health. Findings: Overall, 5.6% of workers reported experiencing one of four forms of WPV. The prevalence of verbal abuse, threats, physical violence, and sexual harassment were 4.9%, 0.7%, 0.2%, and 1.1%, respectively. Most perpetrators were customers. Prevalence of WPV was associated with lower education level, poor health status, long working hours, shift work, and no experience of health and safety education; 9.0% of service workers experienced violence. Workers who had experienced WPV were more likely to experience anxiety, sleep-related problems, depressive symptoms, back pain, headache/eye strain, and overall fatigue. Conclusions/Applications to Practice: Workplace violence is a serious occupational and public health concern in Korea. These results suggest managing WPV may improve workers’ well-being and that violence-prevention strategies, policies, and regulations should be implemented across most industries.

scholarly journals Coping Response to Workplace Violence Among Healthcare Workers in the Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noor Hafizah Abdul Salim ◽  
Mohd Hisham Isa ◽  
Keng Sheng Chew ◽  
Mohd Zairul Mohd Noor ◽  
Azlan Helmy Abd Samat
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Coping Response ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Local Setting ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
Incident Reports ◽  
Constructive Confrontation

Abstract Background Workplace violence faced in the Emergency Department is well documented. However, there is minimal local data found in the literature. An exploration regarding workplace violence in a local setting is undertaken. This study examined the coping response to the occurrence of workplace violence encountered by an Emergency and Trauma Department healthcare workers. Method The study was done in one of the Emergency and Trauma Department of a tertiary government hospital in Malaysia. A period of a month was taken for data collection. Inclusion criteria includes healthcare workers who had exposure to work- place violence and agreeable to participate in the study. Incident reports were examined and semi-structured in-depth interview of various level of healthcare staff were conducted. Results Three final themes were identified in the way healthcare workers response to workplace violence; First, coping in pre-crisis phase to prevent a violent incident from occurring -mental and behavioural preparedness; Two, coping during crisis to prevent escalation of violence- self-restraint, constructive confrontation, seeking instrumental support; Three, coping after crisis to adapt emotionally and improve knowledge in managing workplace violence-seeking emotional support, disengagement, adaptation. Conclusions The method of coping response employed by participants corresponded to the level of violence exhibited by perpetrator. Multicentre study will help to broaden the understanding of WPV in Malaysia

scholarly journals Workplace Violence Against Healthcare Professionals in Thai Tertiary Hospitals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophida Kueanongkhun ◽  
Siriwan Grisurapong ◽  
Kitirat Techatraisak ◽  
Thomas E. Guadamuz
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Racial Harassment ◽  
Tertiary Hospitals ◽  
Chi Square Test

Abstract Background: Thailand lacks evidence of the current prevalence of workplace violence (WPV) at tertiary hospitals. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of, perpetrators of, and factors associated with WPV against healthcare workers in excellent tertiary hospitals in Thailand.Methods: This was a mixed-methods study. A questionnaire was individually administered by an interviewer to 220 healthcare workers using a tablet with an online platforms, and the completion rate was 100%. The study was conducted from July 2018 to March 2019. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to examine the variables related to any violence according to individual and work data. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess risk factors for exposure to violence using a logistic regression model. Thirty participants provided additional qualitative data that were used for thematic analysis.Results: The findings revealed that in the past 12 months, 63.6% of the participants experienced violence at their workplaces. The most common type of violence reported was verbal violence (56.4%), followed by physical violence (24.1%), bullying (16.4%), sexual harassment (4.1%), and racial harassment (3.6%). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that the correlates of violence at hospitals included being male (OR = 4.28, 95% CI 1.50–12.19), working in an outpatient department (OR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.42–4.58), and having direct contact with clients (OR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.25–7.73). The qualitative data revealed 5 major themes.Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of violence against all healthcare workers at excellent tertiary hospitals in Thailand. Policymakers need to be aware of the roots and risk factors for all types of WPV. The results could also contribute to the development of appropriate policies, interventions for conflicts based on intergenerational gaps, reporting, investigation processes, preventive measures, and zero-tolerance protocols for all healthcare workers.

scholarly journals Gender differences in reporting workplace violence: a qualitative analysis of administrative records of violent episodes experienced by healthcare workers in a large public Italian hospital

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e031546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Acquadro Maran ◽  
Claudio Giovanni Cortese ◽  
Pierluigi Pavanelli ◽  
Giulio Fornero ◽  
Maria Michela Gianino
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Administrative Records ◽  
Italian Hospital

ObjectivesThis study aims to analyse, from a descriptive and qualitative point of view, the episodes of violence reported by healthcare workers (HCWs) in a large public Italian hospital. Qualitative analysis permits us to collect the victims’ words used to describe the event and the ways in which they dealt with it. A comparison between genders was performed to better understand what type of different strategies could be used to improve the prevention of workplace violence for HCWs.Design and settingThe retrospective observational study was carried out in ‘Città della Salute e della Scienza’, a complex of four interconnected hospitals situated in Northern Italy. This study analysed aggression data from the 4-year period of 2015–2018 that included all HCW categories. The data were obtained from the aggression reporting form.ParticipantsThe analysed records were supplied by 396 HCWs (3.6% of all HCWs in the hospital).ResultsMale HCWs aged <30 years did not report violent episodes that occurred in the workplace, while male HCWs with 6–15 years of work experience reported more violent episodes than their female counterparts. Among the HCW professions, nursing was the profession, in which HCWs were more prone to experience a violent episode, while male medical doctors were more prone to report violent episodes than female medical doctors. Moreover, female HCWs experienced more verbal violence (insults) than male HCWs did, while male HCWs experienced more physical violence (bodily contact) than female HCWs did.ConclusionsThe findings from this explorative study suggest that there is a gender difference in the characteristics of workplace violence perpetrated by patients, patients’ relatives and visitors and in the way in which these episodes are described. Consequently, it is important for informative and preventive courses to consider gender differences in experiencing a violent episode.

Workplace violence against physicians and medical students in west part of Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdorrahim Afkhamzadeh ◽  
Amjad Mohamadi Bolbanabad ◽  
Bayan Moloudi ◽  
Hossein Safari ◽  
Bakhtiar Piroozi
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Teaching Hospitals ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to survey the prevalence of exposure to workplace violence (WPV) including physical violence, verbal abuse, bullying as well as its related factors among physicians and medical students attending teaching hospitals of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (KUMS). Design/methodology/approach This is a descriptive analytic as well as a cross-sectional study which was carried out on all physicians (general and specialists) and medical students attending teaching hospitals of KUMS in 2014. Overall, 400 participated in this study and data were gathered using a standard questionnaire. Then, data were analyzed using SPSS 20, χ2 and Fisher’s exact tests as well as univariate and adjusted logistic regression. Findings The prevalence of physical violence, verbal abuse and bullying among medical students was reported 4.5, 59 and 0.8 percent, respectively. In addition, the prevalence of these violence among general practitioners was 6.9, 72.4 and 0 percent, respectively. Moreover, 11.5, 42.3 and 3.8 percent of specialists had experienced physical violence, verbal abuse and bullying, respectively. Patients and their relatives were the main sources of the violence. Based on the results of multivariate logistic regression, male sex (AOR=2.60, CI: 1.56–4.32) and having shift work (AOR=3.13, CI: 1.67–5.84) were the most significant risk factors for total WPV. Originality/value The WPV experienced by physicians and medical students attending teaching hospitals of MUK is high. Health sector authorities should develop and implement proper strategies and interventions aiming at reducing or preventing from incidence of WPV.

scholarly journals Relationships between nurses’ experiences of workplace violence, emotional exhaustion and patient safety

2020 ◽  
pp. 174498712096020
Author(s):  
Sinhye Kim ◽  
Celeste Mayer ◽  
Cheryl B Jones
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Patient Safety Culture ◽  
Healthcare Research ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Academic Medical Centre ◽  
Safety Perceptions

Background The rising rate of workplace violence in hospitals is a serious concern. While leading organisations recommend implementing interventions to address workplace violence, little is known about the workplace violence relationship between patients and visitors, and how it affects nurses’ emotional exhaustion and their perceptions of patient safety. Aims The study’s purpose was to understand the status of workplace violence in hospitals and the relationships between nurses’ experiences of workplace violence, emotional exhaustion, and perceptions of patient safety. Methods This cross-sectional analysis used data from a survey conducted at a large academic medical centre using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture plus additional measures of workplace violence and emotional exhaustion. Results Nurses reported more occurrences of verbal violence than physical violence. Nurses’ experiences of workplace violence negatively affect nurses’ emotional exhaustion and patient-safety perceptions. Moreover, nurses’ emotional exhaustion mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and patient-safety perceptions. Conclusions Interventions to reduce nurses’ emotional exhaustion and strengthen resilience can mitigate the negative effects of verbal abuse and to some extent the effects of physical violence.

Prevalence of Physical and Verbal Violence Against Health Care Workers in Turkey

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 844-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurcan Hamzaoglu ◽  
Burcu Türk
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Verbal Abuse ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Workplace Conditions ◽  
Country Case Study ◽  
Care Workers

Workplace violence has affected many individuals in recent years, irrespective of age, gender, race, educational level, and sector. We analyzed the responses to the Workplace Violence in the Health Sector Country Case Study Questionnaire, applied online to 447 health care workers who worked in public or private health care institutions in different cities of Turkey. Frequencies, percentages, and a chi-square independence test were used for data analysis through SPSS 18. Of the participants, 37.4% were doctors, 61.3% were midwives-nurses or emergency medical technicians (EMT), and 1.3% worked in units with no direct contact with patients and relatives (such as management and the hospital pharmacy). A total of 36.7% of participants reported exposure to physical violence, and 88.8% reported exposure to verbal abuse at least once during their working lives. Many participants who were victims of physical violence or verbal abuse did not report incidents because they thought it would provide no benefits. Regulations on effective communication training, changes in workplace conditions, and effective implementation of violence prevention procedures may help to reduce the rates of verbal abuse and physical violence in the health care sector. In addition, when managers show support for their employees in the prevention of workplace violence, it may help employees to feel more secure in their workplaces.

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Violence against Healthcare Workers in Turkey and Employee Job Satisfaction

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1607-1610
Author(s):  
Salih Dursun ◽  
Sevinc Serpil Aytac
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Exposure To Violence ◽  
Study Data ◽  
P Value ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact

Aim: To reveal the different dimensions of workplace violence that healthcare workers are exposed to, and to evaluate the impact of exposure to violence on the job satisfaction of healthcare workers. Methods: The study sample comprises 169 people working in different positions in the hospital (doctor, nurse, secretary, assistant staff, etc.). The Workplace Violence Questionnaire and Job Satisfaction Scale were used to collect the study data. The questionnaire forms were distributed in closed envelopes according to the random sampling method, and were filled out by the volunteer participants themselves. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used to analyze the study data. Results: The results of the study show that more than half of the hospital staff (57.5%) had been exposed to violence in the last year; 54.8% of participants were exposed to verbal violence, 26% were exposed to physical violence, and 5.4% were exposed to sexual harassment. In addition, it was found that the job satisfaction levels of those individuals who were exposed to violence (16.71) were lower than the job satisfaction level of those who were not exposed to violence (18.59) (t = -2.793, p-value = 0.006). Conclusion: The study results show that healthcare workers are at serious risk of violence in the workplace. In addition, it is observed that exposure to violence negatively affects job satisfaction, which is important in regarding workplace attitude. Keywords: Health Workers, Workplace Violence, Job Satisfaction.

scholarly journals Workplace violence toward resident doctors in public hospitals of Syria: prevalence, psychological impact, and prevention strategies: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Okbah Mohamad ◽  
Naseem AlKhoury ◽  
Mohammad-Nasan Abdul-Baki ◽  
Marah Alsalkini ◽  
Rafea Shaaban
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Introduction Workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare workers is a common and daily problem in hospitals worldwide. Studies in different countries indicated that exposure to WPV potentially impacts the psychological status of healthcare workers. However, there is a paucity of studies approaching this issue in the Syrian healthcare system. Objectives This study had three objectives: (1) to estimate the prevalence of violence against resident doctors in Syria, (2) to examine the association between WPV and resident doctors’ psychological stress, sleep quality, depression, and general health and (3) to suggest approaches to tackle this problem from the resident doctors' perspectives. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 out of 14 provinces, and covered 17 out of 56 accessible functioning hospitals in Syria. Data were collected using anonymous, self-administered questionnaires during February 2020. A total of 1226 resident doctors volunteered to participate in the study. Finally, 1127 valid questionnaires were used in the final data analysis. The overall response rate was 91.92%. Results A total of 955 participants (84.74%) reported exposure to WPV in the 12 months prior to the study. In specific, 84.74% exposed to verbal violence and 19.08% to physical violence. Patients’ associates were the predominant aggressors in both verbal and physical violence (n = 856; 89.63%, n = 178; 82.79%, respectively). Most resident doctors (87.31%) suggested enacting more legislation to protect doctors as the best solution to reduce WPV. Verbal and physical violence showed a significant positive correlation with each item of depression and stress, and a significant negative correlation with both subjective sleep quality and subjective health. Conclusion Workplace violence against resident doctors in Syria is highly common. Therefore, policymakers, hospital managers, and supervisors should work collaboratively in order to minimize WPV and ensure resident doctors’ safety and psychophysical stability.

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