Workplace violence inflicted by patients or their family members/visitors and its relationship with suicidal ideation among undergraduate medical students during clinical training in China

Xin Wang; Pu Peng; Yueheng Liu; Winson Fuzun Yang; Shubao Chen; Yunfei Wang; Qian Yang; Manyun Li; Yingying Wang; Yuzhu Hao; Li He; Qianjin Wang; Junhong Zhang; Yuejiao Ma; Haoyu He; Yanan Zhou; Jiang Long; Chang Qi; Yi-Yuan Tang; Yanhui Liao; Jinsong Tang; Qiuxia Wu; Tieqiao Liu

doi:10.1080/07853890.2023.2295027

Annals of Medicine (Dec 2023)

Workplace violence inflicted by patients or their family members/visitors and its relationship with suicidal ideation among undergraduate medical students during clinical training in China

Xin Wang,
Pu Peng,
Yueheng Liu,
Winson Fuzun Yang,
Shubao Chen,
Yunfei Wang,
Qian Yang,
Manyun Li,
Yingying Wang,
Yuzhu Hao,
Li He,
Qianjin Wang,
Junhong Zhang,
Yuejiao Ma,
Haoyu He,
Yanan Zhou,
Jiang Long,
Chang Qi,
Yi-Yuan Tang,
Yanhui Liao,
Jinsong Tang,
Qiuxia Wu,
Tieqiao Liu

Affiliations

Xin Wang: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Pu Peng: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Yueheng Liu: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Winson Fuzun Yang: Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
Shubao Chen: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Yunfei Wang: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Qian Yang: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Manyun Li: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Yingying Wang: School of Physical Education and Health, Hunan University of Technology and Business, Changsha, China
Yuzhu Hao: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Li He: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Qianjin Wang: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Junhong Zhang: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Yuejiao Ma: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Haoyu He: Department of Psychology, College of Education, Hunan First Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Yanan Zhou: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Jiang Long: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Chang Qi: Department of Psychiatry, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Yi-Yuan Tang: College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Yanhui Liao: Department of Psychiatry, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Jinsong Tang: Department of Psychiatry, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Qiuxia Wu: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Tieqiao Liu: Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2023.2295027
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 55, no. 2

Abstract

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AbstractBackground Workplace violence in healthcare settings is a significant public concern that profoundly impacts healthcare workers. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the prevalence of workplace violence and its correlation with suicidal ideation among undergraduate medical students in China during their clinical training. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of workplace violence inflicted by patients or their family members/visitors and to assess its association with suicidal ideation among undergraduate medical students.Method The snowballing sampling technique was used to recruit Chinese medical students. A question designed by the research team was used to ask medical students about their encounters with workplace violence. Students’ basic demographic information and mental distresses (learning burnout, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, alcohol abuse/dependence, excessive daytime sleepiness and history of mental disorders) were also assessed. As appropriate, the data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent-sample t-tests and multiple logistic regression.Results Out of the 1402 undergraduate medical students who participated, 493 (35.2%) reported having experienced workplace violence inflicted by patients or their family members/visitors, of which 394 (28.1%) were verbal abuse, 14 (1.0%) were physical aggression, and 85 (6.1%) were suffered from both verbal abuse and physical aggression. Furthermore, students exposed to workplace violence were more likely to report suicidal ideation and had a higher prevalence of learning burnout, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, alcohol abuse/dependence and excessive daytime sleepiness. Depression symptoms, history of mental disorders, learning burnout and having a partner were significantly associated with suicidal ideation in this population.Conclusion The prevalence of workplace violence inflicted by patients or their family members/visitors was high among undergraduate medical students in China. This may be associated with their mental distress and suicidal ideation. Consequently, it is crucial to strengthen workplace safety measures and promptly implement interventions to mitigate the potentially serious consequences.

Published in Annals of Medicine

ISSN: 0785-3890 (Print); 1365-2060 (Online)
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/iann

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