scholarly journals Violence against doctors in Iraq during the time of COVID-19

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0254401
Author(s):  
Riyadh Lafta ◽  
Noor Qusay ◽  
Meighan Mary ◽  
Gilbert Burnham

Objectives This study assessed patterns in reported violence against doctors working in 11 Baghdad hospitals providing care for patients with COVID-19 and explored characteristics of hospital violence and its impact on health workers. Methods Questionnaires were completed by 505 hospital doctors (38.6% male, 64.4% female) working in 11 Baghdad hospitals. No personal or identifying information was obtained. Findings Of 505 doctors, 446 (87.3%) had experienced hospital violence in the previous 6 months. Doctors reported that patients were responsible for 95 (21.3%) instances of violence, patient family or relatives for 322 (72.4%), police or military personnel for 19 (4.3%), and other sources for 9 (2%). The proportion of violent events reported did not differ between male and female doctors, although characteristics varied. There were 415 of the 505 doctors who reported that violence had increased since the beginning of the pandemic, and many felt the situation would only get worse. COVID-19 has heightened tensions in an already violent health workplace, further increasing risks to patients and health providers. Interpretation During the COVID-19 epidemic in Iraq an already violent hospital environment in Baghdad has only worsened. The physical and emotional toll on health workers is high which further threatens patient care and hospital productivity. While more security measures can be taken, reducing health workplace violence requires other measures such as improved communication, and addressing issues of patient care.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirmin Bintay Kader ◽  
Md. Marufur Rahman ◽  
Md. Khaledul Hasan ◽  
Md. Mohibur Hossain ◽  
Jobaida Saba ◽  
...  

Workplace violence in healthcare settings is a common global problem, including in Bangladesh. Despite the known presence of workplace violence in healthcare environments of developing countries, there is limited understanding of factors that lead to hospital violence in Bangladesh. This study aims to explore factors that influence incidents of violence against healthcare professionals in Bangladesh, as reported by doctors via social media forum. Content analysis was conducted on 157 reported incidents documented on “Platform,” the online social media most used by medical students and doctors in Bangladesh. Posts by doctors detailing experiences of physical or verbal violence at their workplace between July 2012 and December 2017 were included in this study. The majority of reported incidents were reported by male doctors (86%) and from government hospitals (63.7%). Findings showed that primary healthcare centers experienced more violence than secondary and tertiary facilities. This may largely be due to insufficient human and other resources in primary care settings to meet patient demand and expectations. Most of the events happened at night (61%), and as a result, entry-level doctors such as emergency duty doctors and intern doctors were commonly affected. Six themes were identified as vital factors in workplace violence against doctors: patients’ perspectives, delayed treatment, power practice, death declarations, extreme violence, and care-seeking behaviors. Most incidents fell under the categories of delayed treatment and power practice at 26.8 and 26.1%, respectively. This study identified possible factors for reported violence in hospital settings. To address and reduce these incidents, hospital administrators should be aware of risk factors for violent behavior and design appropriate measures to prevent workplace violence. Further qualitative and quantitative research is needed to appropriately address the consequences of violence on healthcare workers and implement measures to mitigate these events.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. e0239193
Author(s):  
Amandeep Kaur ◽  
Farhad Ahamed ◽  
Paramita Sengupta ◽  
Jitendra Majhi ◽  
Tandra Ghosh

2021 ◽  
pp. 188-209
Author(s):  
Isabelle L Lange ◽  
Sunita Bhadauria ◽  
Sunita Singh ◽  
Loveday Penn-Kekana

Using a layered, ethnographic approach focusing on four small non-corporate private maternity hospitals, we turn a critical lens on what it means to work within this self-regulated bubble and examine the ‘creation’ of a cadre of healthcare workers. Our analysis addresses how a space of care and business is generated out of the precarious positions of both women and the health workers who depend on employment there. Clinic owners’ staffing strategies centred on hiring unlicensed labour room staff, trained on the job rather than in accredited institutes, who take care of all aspects of patient care, including deliveries. By exploring narratives surrounding training and overtreatment, this chapter highlights the tensions between the value placed on profit, care, and working conditions in the private maternal health sector, and examines the structural vulnerability of unlicensed health providers working there.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e042800
Author(s):  
Yujie Liu ◽  
Min Zhang ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Na Chen ◽  
Yiming Huang ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the risk factors associated with workplace violence towards health workers (HWs) in a Chinese hospital.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey in a Chinese secondary hospital in 2019 using an international survey questionnaire, and collected valid data from 1028 HW respondents via mobile phone. Alongside analysing the potential association between exposure to violence and respondents’ characteristics, we compared the workplace violence between this survey and a baseline survey in the same hospital using the same questionnaire in 2018, and investigated the existing measures.ResultsA total of 5.45% of respondents had encountered physical violence while 41.63% had experienced psychological violence. Women (OR=3.45, 95% CI 1.87 to 6.38), those working in outpatient and emergency departments (OR=7.96, 95% CI 2.27 to 27.95), and those with extremely high concern about workplace violence (OR=7.94, 95% CI 1.04 to 60.85) were significantly more likely to suffer physical violence. Working in the outpatient and emergency department (OR=2.03, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.34), having direct physical contact/interaction with patients (OR=2.98, 95% CI 1.62 to 5.49), and extremely high worry about workplace violence (OR=6.47 95% CI 3.38 to 12.40) significantly increased the risk of psychological violence. When the results of the baseline survey were compared with those in this survey, it was shown that physical violence declined significantly from 8.79% in 2018 to 5.45% in 2019, while psychological violence declined significantly from 47.14% in 2018 to 41.63% in 2019. The most recognised measures were security measures (81.03%) while the least recognised measures were check-in procedures for staff (11.19%).ConclusionWorkplace violence towards HWs is a global problem with country-specific features. In our study, workplace violence in the hospital is of great concern. While demonstrating the effectiveness of measures in some degree, there is significant room for improvement. To achieve the vision of ‘zero violence’ in the health sector, aligned comprehensive measures should be systematically adopted.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cátia Santos-Pereira

BACKGROUND GDPR was scheduled to be formally adopted in 2016 with EU member states being given two years to implement it (May 2018). Given the sensitive nature of the personal data that healthcare organization process on a 24/7 basis, it is critical that the protection of that data in a hospital environment is given the high priority that data protection legislation (GDPR) requires. OBJECTIVE This study addresses the state of Public Portuguese hospitals regarding GDPR compliance in the moment of GDPR preparation period (2016-2018) before the enforcement in 25 May 2018, and what activities have started since then. The study focuses in three GDPR articles namely 5, 25 and 32, concerning authentication security, identity management processes and audit trail themes. METHODS The study was conducted between 2017 and 2019 in five Portuguese Public Hospitals (each different in complexity). In each hospital, six categories of information systems critical to health institutions were included in the study, trying to cover the main health information systems available and common to hospitals (ADT, EPR, PMS, RIS, LIS and DSS). It was conducted interviews in two phases (before and after GDPR enforcement) with the objective to identify the maturity of information systems of each hospital regarding authentication security, identity management processes and traceability and efforts in progress to avoid security issues. RESULTS A total of 5 hospitals were included in this study and the results of this study highlight the hospitals privacy maturity, in general, the hospitals studied where very far from complying with the security measures selected (before May 2018). Session account lock and password history policy were the poorest issues, and, on the other hand, store encrypted passwords was the best issue. With the enforcement of GDPR these hospitals started a set of initiatives to fill this gap, this is made specifically for means of making the whole process as transparent and trustworthy as possible and trying to avoid the huge fines. CONCLUSIONS We are still very far from having GDPR compliant systems and Institutions efforts are being done. The first step to align an organization with GDPR should be an initial audit of all system. This work collaborates with the initial security audit of the hospitals that belong to this study.


Author(s):  
Xavier Giné ◽  
Salma Khalid ◽  
Mansuri Ghazala

This chapter uses a randomized community development programme in rural Pakistan to assess the impact of citizen engagement on public service delivery and maternal and child health outcomes. The programme had a strong emphasis on organizing women, who also identified health services as a development priority at baseline. At midline, we find that the mobilization effort alone had a significant impact on the performance of village-based health providers. We detect economically large improvements in pregnancy and well-baby visits by female health workers, as well as increased utilization of pre- and post-natal care by pregnant women. In contrast, the quality of supra-village health services did not improve, underscoring the importance of community enforcement and monitoring capacity for improving service delivery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Šantrić Milićević ◽  
N Vasilijevic ◽  
V Vasic

Abstract Background Some rich countries are actively recruiting labour from abroad for lack of health workforce. A high-level tendency for emigration among health care personnel in Serbia has attracted the attention of policymakers. In the search for evidence that can support the interventions to manage the outflow of the health workforce, the objective of the study was to obtain the opinion of medical doctors and nurses about retention factors. Methods A 65-item questionnaire was distributed to 384 hospital physicians and nurses to explore their views on fourteen aspects for labour outflow management (recruitment, training, job, salary, benefits, managers' behaviour, career development, relationships, work conditions, institutional image, organizational support, and three types of organizational commitment). Any difference between physicians and nurses and their responses' scores was assessed with Pearson Chi-Square (p < 0.05) and Independent Samples t-test (p < 0.05). Results Few nurses (17.8%) and physicians (13.6%) are familiar with measures taken in the country to manage the migration of healthcare workers, but most would work abroad if given such opportunities (56.8% and 63.0%, respectively). The responses of physicians and nurses differ for many aspects of management; the best scored were managers' behaviour (11.9 v 10.4, respectively, p < 0.001) and organizational support (15.3 v 13.4, respectively, p < 0.001), while the least scored were job benefits (4.1 v 4.0, respectively p = 0.531), salary (5.9 v 5.8, respectively p = 0.459), relationships (5.3 v 5.3, respectively p = 0.911) and performance assessment (5.3 v 4.9, respectively p = 0.008). Conclusions The study has identified success and failure factors for the outflow management of health workers in Serbia. Hospital doctors scored higher than nurses almost all retention factors. There is a space to strengthen the policy and practice to retain hospital doctors and nurses in the country. Key messages Hospital nurses are in a worse position than hospital doctors in regard to almost all aspects of outflow management. Stakeholders should invest in retaining medical doctors and nurses in the hospital.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e017757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Hjulstad Johansen ◽  
Valborg Baste ◽  
Judith Rosta ◽  
Olaf G Aasland ◽  
Tone Morken

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate whether reported prevalence of experienced threats, real acts of violence and debilitating fear of violence among Norwegian doctors have increased over the last two decades.DesignRepeated cross-sectional survey.SettingAll healthcare levels and medical specialties in Norway.ParticipantsRepresentative samples of Norwegian doctors in 1993 (n=2628) and 2014 (n=1158).Main outcome measuresRelative risk (RR) of self-reported prevalence of work-time experiences of threats and real acts of violence, and of being physically or psychologically unfit during the last 12 months due to fear of violence, in 2014 compared with 1993, adjusted by age, gender and medical specialty.ResultsThere were no differences in self-reported threats (adjusted RR=1.01, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.08) or real acts (adjusted RR=0.90, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.03) of violence when comparing 2014 with 1993. The proportion of doctors who had felt unfit due to fear of violence decreased from 1993 to 2014 (adjusted RR=0.53, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.73). Although still above average, the proportion of doctors in psychiatry who reported real acts of violence decreased substantially from 1993 to 2014 (adjusted RR=0.75, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.95).ConclusionsA substantial proportion of doctors experience threats and real acts of violence during their work-time career, but there was no evidence that workplace violence has increased over the last two decades. Still, the issue needs to be addressed as part of the doctors’ education and within work settings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Pang Biesty ◽  
Aung Ja Brang ◽  
Barry Munslow

Abstract Background Myanmar has had a long history of civil wars with its minority ethnic groups and is yet to see a sustainable peace accord. The conflicts have had a significant impact on health in Myanmar, with ethnic populations experiencing inequitable health outcomes. Consequently, to meet the health needs of ethnic people, Ethnic Health Organisations and Community-Based Health Organisations (EHO/CBHOs) created their own health system. The EHO/CBHO and Government health systems, provided by the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports (MoHS), remain parallel, despite both stakeholders discussing unification of the health systems within the context of ongoing but unresolved peace processes. EHO/CBHOs discuss the ‘convergence’ of health systems, whilst the MoHS discuss the integration of health providers under their National Health Plan. Methods A qualitative study design was used to explore the challenges to collaboration between EHO/CBHOs and the MoHS in Kayin state, Myanmar. Twelve health workers from different levels of the Karen EHO/CBHO health system were interviewed. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and coded. Data was analysed thematically using the Framework method. Topic guides evolved in an iterative process, as themes emerged inductively from the transcripts. A literature review and observation methods were also utilised to increase validity of the data. Results The challenges to collaboration were identified in the following five themes: (1) the current situation is not ‘post conflict’ (2) a lack of trust (3) centralised nature of the MoHS (4) lack of EHO/CBHO health worker accreditation (5) the NHP is not implemented in some ethnic areas. Conclusions Ultimately, all five challenges to collaboration stem from the lack of peace in Myanmar. The health systems cannot be ‘converged or ‘integrated’ until there is a peace accord which is acceptable to all actors. EHO/CBHOs want a federal political system, where the health system is devolved, equitable and accessible to all ethnic people. External donors should understand this context and remain neutral by supporting all health actors in a conflict sensitive manner.


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