Workplace Violence against Registered Doctors in Nepal

Workplace violence against health workers is rising globally. This study aimed to assess the nationwide prevalence and associated factors of workplace violence against Nepal Medical Council-registered Nepali doctors.

A nationwide web-based study was conducted among 420 Nepal Medical Council-registered Nepali doctors using a Google form. Data was cleaned and coded in Ms Excel 2021 and then analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21.0. Frequencies and proportions were calculated for categorical variables. Chi-square test was used to assess the associations between different independent variables with presence of workplace violence, taking p-value of less than 0.05 as statistically significant. Significant variables from bivariate analysis were fitted in binomial logistic regression model to determine strength of association at 95% confidence interval.

Overall, 196 (46.67%) doctors experienced some form of workplace violence, with verbal abuse being the commonest (194; 46.19%). No action was taken against perpetrators in 11 (42.31%) physical violence, 125 (64.43%) verbal abuse and 15 (71.43%) racial harassment cases. Doctors working in more than two clinics/hospitals (AOR 4.09, p-value 0.007, 95% CI 1.50-11.48) and having zero vacations in the last six months (AOR 3.08, p-value 0.036, 95% CI 1.07-8.82) were found to be at higher risk of physical violence. Verbal abuse was more likely among those working in government hospitals (AOR 0.55, p-value 0.004, 95% CI 0.37-0.83) and working over 48 hours a week (AOR 1.89, p-value 0.003, 95% CI 1.25-2.86).

The burden of workplace violence was notably high in Nepal (46.67%), mainly verbal abuse (46.19%). Long working hours, lack of rest and working in multiple clinics/hospitals were the contributing factors.