Violence against physicians and nurses in a hospital: How does it happen? A mixed-methods study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Medical Sociology
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Violence against medical personnel is a frequent and concerning issue in healthcare settings.
• Little is known about the specific factors contributing to hospital violence and their interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe staff and patient perceptions of factors leading to violence.
• To explore the interplay of these factors in hospital settings.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study was conducted in a university tertiary hospital.
• Data collection included surveys from 678 staff (nurses and physicians) and 18 in-depth interviews with victims and perpetrators.
• Four focus groups were held with physicians, nurses, and security personnel.

Main Results:

• Violence results from interacting factors: staff behavior (39%), patient/visitor behavior (26%), organizational conditions (17%), and waiting times (10%).
• Staff acknowledged their own behavior contributed to violence (35%) and that staff behavior influenced episodes (48%).
• Patient dissatisfaction with service quality, staff professionalism, and communication gaps were key reasons for violence.

Conclusions:

• Staff and patients experience shared conditions of overload, pressure, and frustration.
• Healthcare staff reported a lack of tools to prevent violence.
• Awareness of interacting factors can inform interventions for preventing and managing hospital violence.