Violence Against Healthcare Workers: Risk Factors, Effects, Evaluation and Prevention

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of violence, the causes of violence and possible precautions to violence for healthcare workers employed at the Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University Health Application and Research Centre. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 453 people consisting of physicians, nurses, technicians and other healthcare workers were given a survey based on the relevant literature. Results: While 61.1% of healthcare workers were subjected to violence at least once in their professional lives, 39.3% experienced violence in the last year. The frequency of exposure to violence was significantly higher in women (65.9%) than in men (53.4%). The frequency of exposure to violence among healthcare workers in the 30-39 age group (69.2%) was higher than other age groups. Nurses experienced more violence than other occupational groups. Emergency clinic workers were subjected to violence most frequently (%72.2). The most common change in the patient approach after violence was a decrease in tolerance for patient demands (58.3%). 83.5% of the victims of violence did not resort to legal remedies. 74.6% of them stated that they would not get any results. The most common recommendation of the healthcare workers who had been subjected to violence was the implementation of judicial and financial sanctions (84.9%). Conclusion: Most of the health workers did not resort to legal remedies because they thought that they would not get results after violence. High-deterrent regulations to prevent violence in health should be issued.