Analysis on the epidemiological features and risk factors of hospital workplace violence in Guangzhou / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the epidemiological features and relevant risk factors of hospital workplace violence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study using logistic regression on hospital staff was carried out. Based on WHO's last definition for workplace violence from "new research showing workplace violence threatening health services" issued on May 10th, 2002.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 4062 staff members investigated, 2619 had been subjected to workplace violence in the last 12 months preceding the survey, with a rate of 64.48% which was accounted for 49.12% of psychological and 15.36% of physical violence respectively. Male staff were more vulnerable to physical violence against female. Those victims aged 30 - 39 years were at greatest risk. Doctors and nurses were leading victims of workplace violence. Most of workplace violence happened during day shift, in the ward. The main risk factors contributing to workplace violence would include: unreasonable demand from patients or their relatives, late recovery as expected, and expensive cost. Patients' relatives often took the leading role as perpetrators and followed by patients themselves.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Magnitude of hospital workplace violence in hospitals in Guangzhou asked for comprehensive measures to improve staff-patient relationship for the prevention and control of violence.</p>

Prevalence of workplace violence in staff of two hospitals in Guangzhou / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand prevalence of workplace violence in hospital and to analyse its relevant causes to lay a basis for maintaining normal working order in hospital.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A study was conducted to look into workplace violence situation in health care workers in two large hospitals of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province during October 2001 to October 2002. Workplace violence was defined as any events occurred in hospital staff, who suffered psychological or/and physical violence during the past 12 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 678 of 1 043 hospital staff (65%) investigated had such experience during the past year, mainly psychological violence. Medical doctors were more vulnerable than nurses, with prevalence of 70.3% and 67.7% for medical doctors and nurses, respectively. Prevalence was the highest in those aged 30 - 39 years with 11 - 20 years of employment. Man staff were more vulnerable to physical violence than women, with prevalence of 11.7% and 5.3%, respectively. No significant difference in psychological or sexual violence between man and woman staff was found. Frequently, nurses and nurse aides were victims of sexual violence. Usually, troublemakers were patients relatives or patients themselves, accounting for 64.2% and 50.0% of the total events, respectively. Main causes for workplace violence in hospital included unreasonable requirement from patients or their relatives which was not met, or not-so-quick recovery as they desired.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Workplace violence occurred in hospital staff was prevalent in Guangzhou, which should be attached more importance. Comprehensive intervention measures should be adopted focusing on law reinforcement and education, to maintain normal working order in hospital.</p>