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

Workplace violence (WPV) against healthcare professionals in India is alarmingly high, exceeding global averages, with emergency departments and intensive care units being high-risk areas. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of WPV among doctors, evaluate reporting practices, assess its psychosocial impact, and evaluate existing prevention measures.

A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire distributed via Google Forms through snowball sampling. The questionnaire, validated for content, included demographic information, details of WPV encountered in the past 12 months, its consequences, reporting practices, and mitigation strategies. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation, was performed using SPSS version 19.

Out of 658 respondents, 60.9% reported experiencing WPV, predominantly verbal abuse. Perpetrators were mainly patients' visitors, and common causes included dissatisfaction with services and poor communication. Night hours, operation theatres, ICUs, and emergency rooms were high-risk locations. A significant portion (48%) did not report incidents due to perceived inaction and lack of organizational support. WPV negatively impacted psychosocial well-being in over half of the affected doctors. Deficiencies in training and grievance redressal systems were reported, with a strong recommendation for communication skills training.

WPV is highly prevalent among Indian doctors, with verbal abuse being the most common form. Poor communication and lack of reporting mechanisms exacerbate the issue. Integrating communication training into medical curricula and establishing robust reporting systems are crucial for mitigating WPV and supporting healthcare professionals.