Evaluation of Violence Against Physicians: Sivas Province Example

Abstract

Objective: Violent incidents in healthcare institutions are situations that negatively affect all healthcare professionals, especially physicians. This research was planned to determine the frequency of physicians’ exposure to workplace violence, their reactions to violence, the causes of violence, and solutions to violence. Methods: In this regard, the study group of the research consists of a total of 290 volunteer physicians between the ages of 24-72 working in the city center of Sivas. In this study, data was collected using a survey consisting of 49 questions, including the sociodemographic characteristics of physicians, information about their working status, variables related to the violence that physicians were exposed to, and physicians’ thoughts about the causes, consequences, and solution suggestions of violence. Results: The rate of physicians who were exposed to violence at least once in the working environment was 57.9%. Female physicians, physicians who worked in internal branches, and physicians who had a career of over 16 years were more likely to be exposed to violence. 49.4% of physicians who were subjected to violence filed a complaint. Psychological/verbal violence was the most common (82.1%) among the types of violence. The perpetrators of violence were primarily patients and their relatives. Conclusion: In order to prevent violent incidents and their adverse effects, adequate security measures should be taken, legal regulations should be made to deter acts of violence, and the level of awareness of violent incidents should be increased. Healthcare workers should be given support and training on the effects of violence and coping with it, and the working conditions of physicians should be improved.

Keywords

• violence in healthcare
• physician
• physical violence
• psychological violence
• health personnel