Violence against trainee paediatricians

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Occupational Health
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Previous research on workplace violence against doctors has primarily focused on psychiatry, general practice, and emergency departments.
• Limited data exists regarding the prevalence and impact of violence specifically targeting trainee paediatricians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent and nature of violence experienced by trainee paediatricians in the UK.
• To assess the psychological impact and reporting behaviors associated with these violent incidents.

Main Methods:

• A telephone questionnaire survey was administered to 75 trainee paediatricians across three UK regions.
• Participants included specialist registrars, senior registrars, and senior house officers in paediatrics.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of workplace violence was reported, with 90.7% of trainee paediatricians experiencing at least one violent incident.
• Over 62% of incidents occurred within the past year, and 41% reported threats. Actual physical assault was experienced by 5.3%, with attempted assaults reported by over 10%.
• Most affected trainees experienced psychological distress, yet formal reporting, training, and counselling were minimal.

Conclusions:

• Trainee paediatricians face significant risks of workplace violence, particularly in high-risk settings like child protection and casualty.
• There is a substantial gap in formal reporting, training, and psychological support for paediatric trainees exposed to violence.
• Recommendations include enhancing training programs and providing adequate counselling services to address the needs of paediatric trainees.