Workplace Violence in Healthcare sector in Ain-Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) has been recognized as a major occupational hazard worldwide. Healthcare professions are particularly at a higher risk of WPV. Reported magnitude of WPV represents only the tip of an iceberg. The consequences of WPV in healthcare sector are dramatic; it affects the wellbeing of healthcare professions as well as the quality of the delivered service. Objective: The study aimed to measure the magnitude of WPV, to identify factors associated with WPV among nurses and physicians as well, to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a training session delivered to nurses. The training session aimed to increase nurses’ ability to identify potentially violent situations and to effectively manage these situations in a tertiary teaching hospital in Egypt. Methodology: A total of 114 physicians and 128 nurses were surveyed about experienced WPV within the previous 12 months. Violence in the workplace survey questionnaire was used. A total of 99 nurses attended the training sessions. Confidence in coping with aggressive patient scale, along with nurses’ attitudes toward WPV, were used to assess the effectiveness of the training sessions. Results: The study found a high magnitude of WPV; nearly three fourth of physicians and nurses experienced violence in the workplace within the past 12 months. Patients’ relatives were the most common perpetrator for physical violence and verbal abuse among nurses and among physicians. Female physicians experienced WPV more commonly compared to male physicians. There was a statistically significant association between type of patient nurses commonly cared for and experiencing WPV. Verbal abuse was the most common type of WPV encountered. Nurses’ perceived confidence to deal with aggression increased after attending the training sessions. Nurses’ attitudes toward WPV positively changed after attending the training session. Conclusion and Recommendations: WPV among healthcare professions is an increasing problem that needs to be addressed. Increasing awareness of the problem among healthcare professions as well as the general public is warranted. Violence prevention program with a zero-tolerance policy is warranted.