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

ABSTRACT

<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>