Perceptions and Experiences of Healthcare Personnel Regarding Violence Against Health Care: A Qualitative Multiple Case Study

Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare workers are at high risk of facing violence all over the world. The sanctity, respect,and protection of health care beingthreatened by violence in healthcare settings. The study aims to explore the perception of healthcare personnel about violence in healthcare settings in district Peshawar.MethodsThis qualitative multiple case study uses a participatory approach to understandthe processes and themes that explain the healthcare personnel's experience of violence. Ten focus group discussions and three individual in-depth interviews were conducted with eighty-three participants recruited through purposive sampling.ResultsThree distinct recurrent themes emerged from the responses of the different stakeholders, and a consensus was reached on seven broad categories. The themes were: (a) Not all the wounds are visible: the theme describes the nature, frequency, and characteristics of violence and explores that violence is not merely any physical action taken against men or women to cause visible physical wounds, but also includes verbal or emotional abuse that attempts to hurt the feelings or affects the health of an individual. (b) But violence is never the answer: different categories, including the perpetrators of violence, causes, and contributing factors, and the consequences and effects of violence on individuals and institutions were explored and summarized that there could be many causes to provoke violence, but still violence cannot be justified. (c) Vaccine for violence: describesthe various strategies for the prevention of violence and suggests multiplemeasures at the public and institutional levels to be incorporated for a future without violence. ConclusionThe study concluded that violence against healthcare is a frequently occurring phenomenon inhealthcare settings. Most of the incidents are not highlighted as they are verbal/emotional but have far more impact on the healthcare personnel. A holistic approach was suggested for ending violence in the healthcare settings, andthe need to involve all relevant stakeholders was emphasized. The recommended measures include policy formulation, promoting awareness and education, capacity building of healthcare personnel on communication strategies/consultation skills, improved security of the healthcare settings,and positive role of media in promoting the respect of healthcare personnel. Further research should then focus on evaluating the effectiveness of these measures.