An Evaluation of Verbal, Physical, and Sexual Violence Against Healthcare Workers in Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

Background Healthcare professionals work in high-stress, fast-paced settings where individuals from different professions work together and who are exposed to many types of violence. The phenomenon of violence has become a concern of utmost importance for healthcare professionals that should be addressed with due attention. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the verbal, physical, and sexual workplace violence experienced by healthcare professionals. Methods A survey was conducted in a public hospital in Ankara, Turkey, among 104 physicians, 93 nurses, and 150 other medical staff. Results Of the participating healthcare workers, 96.2%, 95.7%, and 80.7% of the physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel, respectively, reported having been exposed to verbal violence at least once in their professional life. Physicians were identified as a source of violence among other healthcare professionals. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of sociodemographic features on violence. The statistically significant results showed that nurses are exposed to sexual violence more than other medical personnel are (OR = 3.11, 95% CI [1.29, 7.49]). Nurses were more exposed to verbal (OR = 5.08, 95% CI [1.54, 16.75]) and physical (OR = 3.68, 95% CI [1.15, 11.80]) violence compared with other medical personnel working in the hospital. Conclusions This study shows that a great majority of healthcare professionals are subjected to violence ranging from verbal violence in particular to physical and sexual violence.

Violence against physicians and nurses: a systematic literature review

“…Physicians and men were more likely to be exposed to physical violence (Kitaneh and Hamdan 2012;Abed et al 2016;Wang et al 2018). Nurses and women were more likely to be exposed to sexual harassments (Demirci and Uğurluoğlu 2020). Though one study said physicians were less likely to be exposed to physical attack than nurses (Zafar et al 2013).…”

“…Studies showed that direct care providers were at significant risk (Pompeii et al 2015). The majority of the studies showed that nurses and women were more likely to be exposed to violence than physicians and men (Algwaiz and Alghanim 2012;Park et al 2015;Abed et al 2016;Ferri et al 2016;Alsaleem et al 2018;Honarvar et al 2019;Demirci and Uğurluoğlu 2020). However, another study observed no significant difference between physicians and nurses regarding the episodes of violence (Kitaneh and Hamdan 2012).…”

“…Studies showed that verbal abuse, threats of violence and physical violence most frequently occurred in ICUs, whereas reported highest cases of sexual harassment and bullying were in operating rooms (Demirci and Uğurluoğlu 2020). Those who worked in psychiatry departments, emergency departments, i.e.…”

“…physician and nurse sources of violence (Kvas and Seljak 2015). Along with the above, physicians also identified as a source of violence among other healthcare providers (Honarvar et al 2019;Demirci and Uğurluoğlu 2020). Staff behaviours also contributed as a source of violence (Shafran-Tikva et al 2017).…”

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the General Work Stress Scale

“…Turkey is well below the average of the OECD countries (8.8) in terms of the number of nurses (2.1) per 1,000 people, and is, in fact, the lowest ranking country among the OECD countries (OECD, 2019). According to a recent study in Turkey, compared with doctors and other medical personnel, nurses were more exposed to sexual, verbal and physical violence (Demirci & Uğurluoğlu, 2020). Factors such as staff insufficiency, excessive workload and workplace violence can cause higher work stress among nurses in Turkey.…”