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Workplace Violence Faced by Medical Doctors in Kerala, India

Rahul Kunnath1, Jayakrishnan Thayyil2, Nithin Suresh1

  • 1Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kozhikode, IND.

Cureus
|December 19, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Violence against doctors in Kerala is widespread, with most experiencing verbal abuse. Few incidents lead to preventive measures, prompting many doctors to consider leaving India.

Area of Science:

  • Medical professional safety
  • Healthcare workplace violence
  • Public health in India

Background:

  • Violence against doctors is a growing global concern, with a notable increase in incidents reported in Kerala, India.
  • Understanding the prevalence and characteristics of this violence is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and types of violence experienced by modern medicine doctors in Kerala.
  • To identify contributing factors such as gender, workplace, designation, timing, and perpetrator demographics.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 2,400 doctors (minimum Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree) practicing in Kerala.
  • Data collected via validated Google Forms questionnaires distributed through WhatsApp and email.
  • Statistical analysis performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.

Main Results:

  • 65.6% of 1,948 respondents reported experiencing violence, primarily verbal abuse (89.9%) and intimidation (32.7%).
  • Incidents most frequently occurred during the day (84.7%) in casualty triage (57.5%) and outpatient departments (33.6%), often after duty hours.
  • Relatives/bystanders were the main perpetrators (81.5%); only 13.5% of reported incidents resulted in preventive measures, leading 76.7% to consider relocating abroad.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights the alarming prevalence of workplace violence against doctors in Kerala, aligning with global trends.
  • Inadequate implementation of preventive measures indicates a significant gap between awareness and action.
  • Further examination of barriers within healthcare settings is necessary to address this critical issue.
Keywords:
assault against doctorshealthcare workersincidenceindiakeralaworkplace violence

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