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[Aggression faced by doctors during social service in Mexico]
Francisco Arredondo Trujillo1, Santiago Gascón Santos2, Luis Arturo Espino Álvarez3
1Departamento de Salud en el Trabajo, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Unidad Médico Familiar N.° 8, El Marques, Qro.
Objectives:
Physicians during their work activities have been exposed to suffering physical and non-physical aggression (insults, threats, sexual assaults and even murder) by patients. The frequency of such attacks has increased in recent years. The aim of this study is to identify the risk of attacks on physicians associated with the type of work place that health institutions have assigned them for their year of social service in Mexico.
Methods:
A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted during 2012 of 371 physicians who were assigned to work in various community health centers called type "A", "B" or "C".
Results:
Having worked in a work place type "C" was associated with physical aggression (OR: 2.32; 95% CI: 1.03-5.37), threats (OR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.43-4.93), and insults (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.35-3.88).
Conclusions:
The results should be interpreted with caution, but they suggest that physicians who are assigned to work in the places type "C" (where they must care for patients in a solitary manner and at night) during the year of social service in Mexico have a significant risk of being attacked.
Insights
Physicians in Mexico working in type "C" health centers face increased risk of patient aggression, including physical attacks, threats, and insults. These findings highlight workplace safety concerns for physicians during social service years.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
Context:
- Physicians face increasing workplace violence from patients.
- Physician aggression risk varies by healthcare setting.
- Social service year in Mexico presents unique challenges.
Purpose:
- To determine the association between workplace type and physician aggression risk.
- To identify specific healthcare settings with higher attack rates.
- To inform safety protocols for physicians in Mexico.
Summary:
- A 2012 cross-sectional survey of 371 physicians in Mexico assessed workplace aggression.
- Physicians in type "C" centers (solitary, nighttime patient care) reported higher rates of physical aggression, threats, and insults.
- Type "C" work environments were significantly associated with increased risk of physician attacks.
Impact:
- Highlights the heightened risk of patient-directed violence in specific healthcare environments.
- Suggests a need for enhanced safety measures for physicians in isolated or nighttime settings.
- Informs policy and practice to mitigate physician workplace violence in Mexico.
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