SA, E., WR, M. (2021). Violence among Female Health Care Workers. Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine, 45(3), 199-216. doi: 10.21608/ejom.2021.193275
El sharkawy SA; Mondoor WR. "Violence among Female Health Care Workers". Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine, 45, 3, 2021, 199-216. doi: 10.21608/ejom.2021.193275
SA, E., WR, M. (2021). 'Violence among Female Health Care Workers', Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine, 45(3), pp. 199-216. doi: 10.21608/ejom.2021.193275
SA, E., WR, M. Violence among Female Health Care Workers. Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine, 2021; 45(3): 199-216. doi: 10.21608/ejom.2021.193275
Department of Community Medicine and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk for workplace violence (WPV). It is a serious problem in both developed and developing countries and has a great negative impact on the well-being of HCWs and on the quality of the health system. Aim of Work: To determine the prevalence, pattern, associated factors and impacts of WPV among female HCWs at Al-Zahraa University Hospital and to detect the causes and seek out suggestions to prevent such incident. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over 4 months from September to December 2019 at Al-Zahraa University Hospital using a standardized questionnaire. The sample size was 312 physicians and nurses. Results: The prevalence of violence was 66.3% among the studied HCWs with statistically significant higher prevalence among nurses (72.5%) than physicians (61.9%). Verbal violence was the most recurrent type (62.3%) followed by the physical type (19.8%). Patient relatives and friends were the most frequent perpetrators (63.3%). Emergency room was the most common place for violence (42.5%). Violent incidents result in physical, psychological impacts and job dissatisfaction. There was significant association of violence with the marital status and the work shift (p value <0.05) with no significant association of violence with age, occupation and duration of employments (p value >0.05). Low socioeconomic status of patients, shortage of medical equipment and medicine and inadequate security were the most frequently suggested causes of violence. Conclusion and Recommendations: WPV is highly prevalent among the studied HCWs particularly the verbal one and resulted in physical, psychological and work related effects; that highlights the need to develop management strategy to overcome WPV against HCWs. Provision of medical equipment, medicine, security measures, legislation and to restrict public access to examination rooms were the most frequently suggested preventive measures.