The impact of violence on healthcare workers' mental health in conflict based settings amidst COVID‐19 pandemic, and potential interventions: A narrative review

Rija, Aiman; Islam, Zarmina; Bilal, Wajeeha; Qamar, Khulud; Gangat, Shazil Ahmed; Abbas, Samina; Mirha, Hania Tul; Mohanan, Parvathy; Rahmat, Zainab Syyeda; Shaeen, Sean Kaisser; Klouche-Djedid, Selma Nihel; Essar, Mohammad Yasir; Kashyap, Rahul

doi:10.1002/hsr2.920

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…This could be attributed to the impact of violence, which manifests as decreased productivity and concentration, impaired quality of work, higher use of defensive medicine and psychological consequences (over-stress, depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)), ultimately affecting the quality of patient care 48 50–52. Recently, several recommendations have been proposed to curb violence against HCWs to protect and enhance their mental health 53…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 48 50–52 Recently, several recommendations have been proposed to curb violence against HCWs to protect and enhance their mental health. 53 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…48 50-52 Recently, several recommendations have been proposed to curb violence against HCWs to protect and enhance their mental health. 53 Several studies have examined the association between HCW gender and the risk of experiencing violence. Some studies have found no difference in exposure to any kind of violence based on gender, similar to our logistic regression analysis, [54][55][56] whereas others have found that male HCWs may face higher odds of violence.…”

Section: Bmj Global Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

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ViSHWaS: Violence Study of Healthcare Workers and Systems—a global survey

Banga,

Mautong,

Alamoudi

et al. 2023

BMJ Glob Health

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ObjectiveTo provide insights into the nature, risk factors, impact and existing measures for reporting and preventing violence in the healthcare system. The under-reporting of violence against healthcare workers (HCWs) globally highlights the need for increased public awareness and education.MethodsThe Violence Study of Healthcare Workers and Systems study used a survey questionnaire created using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) forms and distributed from 6 June to 9 August 2022. Logistic regression analysis evaluated violence predictors, including gender, age, years of experience, institution type, respondent profession and night shift frequency. A χ2test was performed to determine the association between gender and different violence forms.ResultsA total of 5405 responses from 79 countries were analysed. India, the USA and Venezuela were the top three contributors. Female respondents comprised 53%. The majority (45%) fell within the 26–35 age group. Medical students (21%), consultants (20%), residents/fellows (15%) and nurses (10%) constituted highest responders. Nearly 55% HCWs reported firsthand violence experience, and 16% reported violence against their colleagues. Perpetrators were identified as patients or family members in over 50% of cases, while supervisor-incited violence accounted for 16%. Around 80% stated that violence incidence either remained constant or increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among HCWs who experienced violence, 55% felt less motivated or more dissatisfied with their jobs afterward, and 25% expressed willingness to quit. Univariate analysis revealed that HCWs aged 26–65 years, nurses, physicians, ancillary staff, those working in public settings, with >1 year of experience, and frequent night shift workers were at significantly higher risk of experiencing violence. These results remained significant in multivariate analysis, except for the 55–65 age group, which lost statistical significance.ConclusionThis global cross-sectional study highlights that a majority of HCWs have experienced violence, and the incidence either increased or remained the same during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in decreased job satisfaction.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 48 50–52 Recently, several recommendations have been proposed to curb violence against HCWs to protect and enhance their mental health. 53 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Bmj Global Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

ViSHWaS: Violence Study of Healthcare Workers and Systems—a global survey

Banga,

Mautong,

Alamoudi

et al. 2023

BMJ Glob Health

Self Cite

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“…A recent systematic review highlights relevant studies to violence on Health care workers from 2003 to 2021 in ve countries with armed con ict. The study showed that violence has a strong association with the rapidly deteriorating mental health of the health care workers in con ict-based setting across the World (23).…”

Section: Medical Professionals In Haiti Are At High Risk Of Kidnappingmentioning

confidence: 95%

Providing healthcare under the threat of gang-violence: a survey of Haitian healthcare providers

Belt,

Jacques,

Pierre

et al. 2024

Preprint

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In addition to having some of the worst health outcomes in the region, Haiti faces a political and economic crisis. The most recent humanitarian crisis includes an increase in homicides and kidnappings in the capital Port-au-Prince. This study is a cross-sectional, mixed methods online survey of health workers and medical students in Port-au-Prince from May 20 – September 15, 2023. It provides evidence of the kidnapping risk healthcare workers face and shares the perspective of a medical community operating in a challenging context to provide a continuity of care under the threat of violence. The survey of Haitian health workers and students show a significant risk of kidnapping with 44% of respondents reporting that they had a colleague kidnapped in the previous 2 years. 5 of the 249 respondents had been kidnapped and all were young, female health workers. 74% of health workers and students surveyed reported they plan to continue their profession abroad. Although tele-training was viewed as a positive opportunity to continue training cadres of medical professionals, health workers shared numerous limitations present for the expansion of tele medicine in the Haitian context. In addition to describing the experience of the Haitian healthcare professional during this crisis and documenting barriers to tele training and tele medicine, this survey documents design considerations for mobile phone surveys with healthcare providers working in areas affected by conflict.

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Echoes of conflict: the enduring mental health struggle of Gaza’s healthcare workers

Abed Alah

2024

Confl Health

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The conflict in Gaza presents distinct difficulties that significantly impact the psychological well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs) making it imperative to understand and address their mental health needs in this specific context. This article highlights the unique challenges of the ongoing Gaza conflict and its critical impact on the mental health of HCWs. Observations in the paper revealed that HCWs in Gaza face extraordinary challenges, including the targeting of medical facilities, severe shortages of medical supplies, and the ethical dilemmas of providing care in such constrained conditions. These factors contribute to heightened stress, anxiety, and a pervasive sense of helplessness among HCWs. The paper also notes the compounded emotional burden due to the loss of colleagues and the need to navigate complex interactions with patients’ families under extreme conditions. Furthermore, the lack of basic needs like adequate nutrition and safe drinking water for HCWs themselves further compromises their ability to provide care effectively, contributing further to worsened mental health. The paper also notes the lack of sufficient media coverage and support for these workers, contributing to a sense of isolation and neglect. HCWs in Gaza find themselves in a uniquely challenging situation, one that is marked not only by the immediate stresses of the ongoing conflict but also by the deep-seated psychological scars from past wars. The circumstances in Gaza are clinically relevant as they directly affect the HCWs’ ability to provide care and maintain their well-being. These findings highlight the need for targeted mental health interventions and support tailored to the specific challenges faced by HCWs in Gaza. Addressing these issues is crucial for their well-being and ability to provide effective healthcare under such demanding and traumatic circumstances.

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The impact of violence on healthcare workers' mental health in conflict based settings amidst COVID‐19 pandemic, and potential interventions: A narrative review

Cited by 4 publications

References 43 publications

ViSHWaS: Violence Study of Healthcare Workers and Systems—a global survey

ViSHWaS: Violence Study of Healthcare Workers and Systems—a global survey

Providing healthcare under the threat of gang-violence: a survey of Haitian healthcare providers

Echoes of conflict: the enduring mental health struggle of Gaza’s healthcare workers

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