Patient-Perpetrated Violence Against Healthcare Workers in the Asia-Pacific Region: Scoping Review and Research Agenda

Abstract

Violence against healthcare workers is a pervasive global issue. While previous literature has primarily focussed on fellow employees as perpetrators, little is known regarding violence inflicted by patients and their support such as family and visitors. Adopting a regional lens, this study examines the risk factors of violence against healthcare workers inflicted by patients and their support, owing to higher levels of violence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. We conducted a scoping literature review of 98 APAC-based empirical studies in peer-reviewed academic journals in English. The catalysts for violence were classified according to overarching themes of individual attributes of healthcare professionals, care-centre provisions and infrastructure, accountability of administration and management, as well as patients and their family's backgrounds. Review purpose and rationale were mapped to Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review protocol. These results were further corroborated by some of the collaborative exercises carried out with medical and para-medical professionals. The findings and insights establish a regional risk assessment and evaluation framework with policy ramifications concerning workers' occupational health and safety. We identify and present several socio-economic, political, topographical, and methodological investigation avenues.