Investigation on workplace violence countermeasures in a Grade 2A hospital / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of perpetrators of hospital workplace violence(WPV) on healthcare workers(HCWs) and the countermeasures. METHODS: A total of 978 HCWs was selected as the research subjects in a Grade 2 A hospital using a typical sampling method. The source of the perpetrators of hospital WPV, the subjects′ response to WPV, their degree of worry, their final coping styles and their satisfaction with the coping styles were investigated by the Workplace Violence in the Health Sector Country Case Studies Research Instruments--Survey Questionnaire. RESULTS: The incidence rate of workplace physical violence among HCWs was 8.79%(86/978). The perpetrators were mainly from patients and their family members(82.28%). The main responses to physical violence were to stop the perpetrator with words, talk to colleagues, inform the leaders in charge and try to prevent physical violence from recurring(58.59%). The degree of worry about physical violence was mainly very worried(52.33%). The final coping style was ″nothing was done″(76.75%). The satisfaction of HCWs to physical violence coping styles was very unsatisfied, unsatisfied and uncertain(86.05%). The incidence rate of workplace psychological violence among HCWs was 47.14%(461/978). The perpetrators were mainly patients and their family members(80.40%). The main responses to psychological violence were talking to colleagues, not responding, using language to stop the perpetrator and informing the leaders in charge(71.41%). The degree of worry was very worried and uncertain(71.58%). The final coping style was ″do nothing″ and verbal warning(83.08%). The satisfaction of HCWs to psychological violence coping styles was very unsatisfied, unsatisfied and uncertain(83.08%).CONCLUSION: Patients and their family members are the main perpetrators of hospital WPV, but the parallel violence from HCWs can′t be ignored. We do not have a good way to deal with most of the hospital WPV. The number of HCWs seeking legal protection and union support is extremely low. It is urgent to explore effective management mode to deal with hospital WPV.