Prevalence, Pattern, Perpetrators, and Probable Mitigation Strategies for Workplace Violence Targeting Doctors in...

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Occupational Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare professionals in India is a significant issue, with emergency departments and intensive care units identified as high-risk areas.
• Prevalence rates in India exceed global averages, necessitating a thorough investigation into contributing factors and impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and risk factors of WPV among doctors in India.
• To evaluate current reporting practices and the psychosocial impact of WPV on healthcare professionals.
• To assess the effectiveness of existing prevention measures and identify areas for improvement.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was employed, utilizing a semi-structured questionnaire distributed via Google Forms.
• Snowball sampling was used to recruit 658 healthcare professionals, with data collected on WPV experiences in the past 12 months.
• Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation using SPSS version 19.

Main Results:

• Over 60% of doctors reported experiencing WPV, primarily verbal abuse, with patients' visitors as common perpetrators.
• Key contributing factors included dissatisfaction with services and poor communication; high-risk locations were night hours, operation theatres, ICUs, and emergency rooms.
• Nearly half of incidents went unreported due to perceived inaction and lack of support, significantly impacting doctors' psychosocial well-being.

Conclusions:

• Workplace violence is highly prevalent among Indian doctors, with verbal abuse being the most common form.
• Inadequate communication and reporting mechanisms worsen the problem, highlighting the need for better support systems.
• Integrating communication skills training and establishing robust reporting systems are essential for mitigating WPV and supporting healthcare professionals.