Workplace violence against healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Workplace violence (WPV) is a prevalent phenomenon, especially in the healthcare setting. WPV against healthcare workers (HCWs) has increased during the COVID-19 epidemic. This meta-analysis determined the prevalence and risk factors of WPV. A database search was conducted across six databases in May 2022, which was updated in October 2022. WPV prevalence among HCWs was the main outcome. Data were stratified by WPV/HCW type, pandemic period (early, mid, late), and medical specialty. WPV risk factors were the secondary outcome. All analyses were conducted through STATA. Newcastle Ottawa Scale evaluated the quality. Sensitivity analysis identified effect estimate changes. A total of 38 studies (63,672 HCWs) were analyzed. The prevalence of WPV of any kind (43%), physical (9%), verbal (48%), and emotional (26%) was high. From mid-pandemic to late-pandemic, WPV (40–47%), physical violence (12–23%), and verbal violence (45–58%) increased. Nurses had more than double the rate of physical violence (13% vs. 5%) than physicians, while WPV and verbal violence were equal. Gender, profession, and COVID-19 timing did not affect WPV, physical, or verbal violence risk. COVID-19 HCWs were more likely to be physically assaulted (logOR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.10: 0.97). Most healthcare employees suffer verbal violence, followed by emotional, bullying, sexual harassment, and physical assault. Pandemic-related workplace violence increased. Nurses were twice as violent as doctors. COVID-19 healthcare employees had a higher risk of physical and workplace violence. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-023-27317-2.

Stress experiences of healthcare assistants in family practice at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods study

“…Further, changes in the relationship to patients through conflicts with regard to hygiene measures were identified as a source of stress, which corresponds to literature (39-41). Reviews from Zhang et al and Rossi et al revealed an increase of pandemic related workplace violence (42,43). While our study did not report instances of physical aggression, HCAs considered the increase of verbal violence of patients against them as stressful.…”

Experiences of stigma, discrimination and violence and their impact on the mental health of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…In contrast, violence could be a consequence of stigmatization and negative public attitudes that develop over time and manifest later as frustration increases. Although the occurrence of workplace violence among Czech HCWs is lower than that reported in a previous meta-analysis 39 , the trend in the data is the same. This tendency could be explained by an increased number of patients and their long-term stress and dissatisfaction caused by the pandemic and by an urge to direct frustration toward HCWs 40 .…”

“…All employees in health care should be provided with supervision and psychological help. Workplaces should also implement anti-violence strategies and violence prevention training 39 . The reduction of negative social aspects of the job in health care, such as a lack of support from management, psychological stress, excessive demands, long-term shortages of personnel, and job insecurity, should also be addressed.…”

The relationships between turnover intention and job satisfaction, workplace violence and perceived overqualification among general practitioners in Chongqing, China, during the COVID-19 epidemic

“…A study conducted with Chinese psychiatrists revealed that doctors who experience workplace violence exhibit greater intentions to leave their current position than do those who do not [32]. The incidence of workplace violence targeting healthcare professionals has surged during the COVID-19 pandemic [33,34]. Factors such as fear of the novel coronavirus [35] and inadequate personnel and resources available to meet patient demands[36] may signi cantly contribute to this escalation.…”