Reactions and Perspectives of Healthcare Workers against Workplace Violence: A Cross-sectional Study at Sheikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan

Abstract

Background: Workplace violence encompasses acts or threats of physical violence, intimidation, harassment, or disruptive behavior occurring within the workplace environment.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, focusing on healthcare workers including doctors, nursing staff, and pharmaceutical staff. A predefined questionnaire gathered data on demographics, workplace details, experiences of violence, reactions to violence, and attitudes towards workplace violence. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), with the Chi-square test used to assess significant associations (p ≤ 0.05).

Results: The study included 192 participants, primarily females (52.08%), with 148 doctors (77.1%) and a majority aged 21-30 years (78.13%). Violence was most prevalent during nighttime shifts and among those with 16-20 years of work experience. Verbal violence was reported by 65.1% of participants (p = 0.011). Staff shortages and increased workload were identified as primary causes of violence by 62.4% of respondents (p = 0.017). Relatives were the most common source of violence, accounting for 61.07% of cases. Following incidents, 61.4% of doctors and 38.6% of nurses reported heightened vigilance (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: The study highlights a significant prevalence of workplace violence in healthcare settings, particularly verbal abuse and threats from relatives. Staff shortages and increased workloads were identified as major contributing factors. Organizational interventions and training programs are crucial to mitigate the impact of workplace violence on healthcare workers' well-being.