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Workplace violence against medical staff of Chinese children's hospitals: A cross-sectional study
Zhe Li1, Chun-Mei Yan2, Lei Shi1
1Department of Health Management, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Workplace violence (WPV) is prevalent in Chinese children
Area of Science:
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Public Health
- Occupational Safety
Background:
- Workplace violence (WPV) is a significant issue affecting medical staff in China's children's hospitals.
- Limited research exists on WPV within pediatric healthcare settings in China.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incidence, magnitude, consequences, and risk factors of WPV against medical staff in children's hospitals.
- To provide data for developing targeted intervention strategies and safety measures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cross-sectional study involving 12 children's hospitals.
- Data collected via self-administered questionnaires from 1,932 medical staff.
- Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression.
Main Results:
- 68.6% of staff experienced WPV (non-physical and/or physical) in the past year.
- Perpetrators were primarily patient family members (94.9%); violence often occurred during day shifts in wards.
- Males and emergency departments faced higher risks of physical violence; oncology departments had higher non-physical violence exposure.
Conclusions:
- Medical staff in Chinese children's hospitals face a high risk of WPV.
- WPV negatively impacts staff morale and efficiency, with low rates of psychological support.
- Urgent need for preventive measures and improved safety protocols in pediatric healthcare settings.
Background:
In China, medical staff of children's hospitals are commonly exposed to violence. However, few studies on medical violence are conducted in the settings of children's hospitals. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence, magnitude, consequences, and potential risk factors of workplace violence (WPV) against medical staff of children's hospitals.
Methods:
A retrospective cross-sectional design was used. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to collect data on 12 children's hospitals. The questionnaires were distributed to a stratified proportional random sample of 2,400 medical staff; 1,932 valid questionnaires were collected. A chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were conducted.
Results:
A total of 68.6% of respondents had experienced at least one WPV incident involving non-physical and/or physical violence in the past year. The perpetrators were mainly family members of patients (94.9%). Most of the WPV occurred during the day shift (70.7%) and in wards (41.8%). Males were 1.979 times (95% CI, 1.378 to 2.841) more likely than females to experience physical violence. Emergency departments were more exposed to physical violence than other departments. Oncology was 2.733 times (95% CI, 1.126 to 6.633) more exposed to non-physical violence than the emergency department. As a result of WPV, victims felt aggrieved and angry, work enthusiasm declined, and work efficiency was reduced. However, only 5.6% of the victims received psychological counseling.
Conclusion:
Medical staff are at high risk of violence in China's children's hospitals. Hospital administrators and related departments should pay attention to the consequences of these incidents. There is a need for preventive measures to protect medical staff and provide a safer workplace environment. Our results can provide reference information for intervention strategies and safety measures.
