Interaction, Management and Response of Healthcare Workers Towards Workplace Violence Events

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the interaction, management and response towards WPV events by HCW’s of emergency department

Methodology: We conducted this cross-sectional study using World Health Organization’s tool to collect quantitative data on workplace violence (WPV) amongst universally sampled 164 health professionals working in an emergency department at Nishtar hospital Multan from June-August 2019 after taking an inform consent. All physically present health professionals who have been working there including paramedics, doctors, & nurses, were part of research.

Results: Out of 164 healthcare employees, males were ninety-seven while females were sixty-seven. All the subjects said that they work in shifts, anytime between 18h00 (6 PM) and 07h00 (7 AM), and interact with patients/clients during work as well. Only 11% reported that they have routinely direct physical contact (washing, turning, lifting) with patients/clients. When talking about response to the incident, approximately one-third of the participants sought help from association, almost half of the HCW’s reported to their senior staff, 13.5% subject sought help from union, merely 3.5% HCW told the person to stop whereas, 4.5% told family/friends

Conclusion: Health professionals working in shifts, and also interacting with patients/clients faced violence and mostly reported to their senior staff, or sought help from their association.