Reasons of Violence in Healthcare and Preventive Interventions

Abstract

Introduction:

There is scant information regarding healthcare workers' awareness of the rules pertaining to violence against them in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to examine the prevalence and types of violence faced by primary healthcare workers, along with any potential links to their work experience. Additionally, it explores healthcare workers' reactions and their understanding of the Ministry of Health's policies and regulations in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

Employing a cross-sectional study design, this research targeted healthcare workers in primary healthcare centers and outpatient departments of government hospitals from April to May 2022. The sample was divided based on the proportion of each profession according to the Ministry of Health statistics. A structured online survey was distributed to collect data on various study factors. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used for nominal and ordinal data, and means, medians, and standard deviations or ranges for numerical data. The chi-squared test was utilized to assess the relationship between variables and outcomes.

Results:

The study included 186 healthcare workers from primary health centers, with a majority being female. Doctors constituted 23% of the participants, nurses 45%, and the remainder belonged to other health professions. Workplace violence was reported by 46.7% of the workers, with verbal abuse being the most common form (90%), followed by intimidation (34.3%), and physical violence (3%). About 40.2% of workers were aware of a violence reporting system at their workplace, although 27.3% were unaware of its existence. Among those aware of the system, 47.3% did not know how to use it. Physical violence was more common in outdoor work settings than indoors.

Conclusions:

Violence against healthcare workers is notably prevalent, with nearly half experiencing some form of aggression, especially verbal abuse. Furthermore, a significant proportion of workers are either unaware of the existence of a violence reporting system or do not know how to use it.