Perception and attitude of the healthcare workers on workplace violence in a secondary Grade A hospital: based on the perspectives of a qualitative interview / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To understand the true perception and attitude of the healthcare workers(HCWs) on the workplace violence(WPV) in a secondary Grade A hospital.METHODS: A total of 27 HCWs in a secondary Grade A hospital were selected as study subjects using a typical sampling method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the information of their perception and attitude on the types and effects of WPV, as well as on the coping measures and the work stress. The characteristics of WPV in the hospital were analyzed. RESULTS: The interviewees believed that verbal abuse was the most common type of WPV received by HCWs. Nurses and female workers were the main victims of WPV. Horizontal violence among colleagues and sexual harassment should not be ignored. Common causes of violent incidents for patients and their family members against HCWs included the fees for treatment, doctor-patient communication, patients alcohol abuse and treatment outcomes not meeting patients′ expectation. About half of the interviewees said that WPV had serious impact on their mental health. The follow-up coping measures to violent incidents were mostly to reassurance to patients with unconditional apology from the HCWs. More than half of the interviewees considered that they had acceptable workload, while some interviewees considered their work to be stressful. The interviewees suggested that improving doctor-patient communication, hospital systems, and the professional knowledge of HCWs were the recommended means to prevents and control the WPV. CONCLUSION: The perception and attitude of HCWs on WPV in this hospital are relatively scattered. Considering the complex causes, the serious consequences, and difficult coping measures, the hospitals, HCWs and all sectors of society need to take comprehensive measures to prevent WPV towards HCWs.