Violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a facility-based cross-sectional study
Background Violence against physicians in the workplace is a prevalent global issue, and Bangladesh is no exception. Such violence significantly disrupts healthcare delivery and the attainment of universal health coverage. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the prevalence, nature and assoc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/3/e080244.full |
| _version_ | 1797265372833906688 |
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| author | Monjur Rahman Ashish Paul Mohammad Jahid Hasan Tanzeema Younus Sarkar Mostak Ahmed Aporna Banik Salwa Islam Mir Susmita Zaman Faiza Mahmud Md Nazmus Sakib Anamica Dev Md Jakaria Hossain Jannatul Fardous Nahida Hannan Nishat |
| author_facet | Monjur Rahman Ashish Paul Mohammad Jahid Hasan Tanzeema Younus Sarkar Mostak Ahmed Aporna Banik Salwa Islam Mir Susmita Zaman Faiza Mahmud Md Nazmus Sakib Anamica Dev Md Jakaria Hossain Jannatul Fardous Nahida Hannan Nishat |
| author_sort | Monjur Rahman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Violence against physicians in the workplace is a prevalent global issue, and Bangladesh is no exception. Such violence significantly disrupts healthcare delivery and the attainment of universal health coverage. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the prevalence, nature and associated risk factors of workplace violence (WPV) against physicians in Bangladesh.Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a public tertiary care hospital involving 441 physicians with a minimum tenure of 6 months. Data were gathered through a structured self-reported questionnaire, and statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS V.25.Results Out of the surveyed physicians, 67.3% (n=297) reported experiencing violence, categorised as 84.5% psychological, 13.5% physical and 2% sexual in nature. Predominant forms of psychological violence included bullying (48.8%) and threats (40.1%). The mean age of exposed physicians was 32.5±4.3 (SD) years. Those working in the emergency unit (45.8%), surgery and allied departments (54.2%), engaging in rotating shift work (70%), morning shifts (59.6%) and postgraduate trainees (68%) were frequently subjected to violence. Factors significantly associated with WPV included placement in surgery and allied departments (p<0.001), working rotating shifts (p<0.001), marital status (p=0.011) and being a male physician (p=0.010). Perpetrators were primarily identified as relatives of patients (66%). Working in rotating shifts (adjusted OR(AOR):2.6, 95% CI:1.2 to 5.4) and surgery and allied departments (AOR:5.7, 95% CI:3.4 to 9.8) emerged as significant risk factors of violence against physicians.Conclusion A higher proportion of physicians at the early to mid-level stages of their careers, especially those in rotating shifts and surgery-related departments, reported incidence of WPV. Urgent intervention from policy-makers and healthcare entities is imperative to implement preventive measures. Strengthening security measures, establishing antiviolence policies and providing comprehensive training programmes are crucial steps towards ensuring a safer work environment for healthcare professionals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:43:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e95fdfa3c234e69b9109c55f50af72a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:43:45Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e95fdfa3c234e69b9109c55f50af72a2024-03-12T06:45:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552024-03-0114310.1136/bmjopen-2023-080244Violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a facility-based cross-sectional studyMonjur Rahman0Ashish Paul1Mohammad Jahid Hasan2Tanzeema Younus Sarkar3Mostak Ahmed4Aporna Banik5Salwa Islam6Mir Susmita Zaman7Faiza Mahmud8Md Nazmus Sakib9Anamica Dev10Md Jakaria Hossain11Jannatul Fardous12Nahida Hannan Nishat13Pi Research and Development Centre, Dhaka, Bangladeshspecialist registrar in public health medicineResearch and public Health, Tropical Disease and Health Research Center, Dhaka, BangladeshNorth South University, Dhaka, BangladeshDhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, BangladeshDhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, BangladeshPi Research and Development Centre, Dhaka, BangladeshPi Research and Development Centre, Dhaka, BangladeshDhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, BangladeshUpazila Health Complex, Netrokona, BangladeshDhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, BangladeshSir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, BangladeshPi Research and Development Centre, Dhaka, BangladeshPi Research and Development Centre, Dhaka, BangladeshBackground Violence against physicians in the workplace is a prevalent global issue, and Bangladesh is no exception. Such violence significantly disrupts healthcare delivery and the attainment of universal health coverage. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the prevalence, nature and associated risk factors of workplace violence (WPV) against physicians in Bangladesh.Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a public tertiary care hospital involving 441 physicians with a minimum tenure of 6 months. Data were gathered through a structured self-reported questionnaire, and statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS V.25.Results Out of the surveyed physicians, 67.3% (n=297) reported experiencing violence, categorised as 84.5% psychological, 13.5% physical and 2% sexual in nature. Predominant forms of psychological violence included bullying (48.8%) and threats (40.1%). The mean age of exposed physicians was 32.5±4.3 (SD) years. Those working in the emergency unit (45.8%), surgery and allied departments (54.2%), engaging in rotating shift work (70%), morning shifts (59.6%) and postgraduate trainees (68%) were frequently subjected to violence. Factors significantly associated with WPV included placement in surgery and allied departments (p<0.001), working rotating shifts (p<0.001), marital status (p=0.011) and being a male physician (p=0.010). Perpetrators were primarily identified as relatives of patients (66%). Working in rotating shifts (adjusted OR(AOR):2.6, 95% CI:1.2 to 5.4) and surgery and allied departments (AOR:5.7, 95% CI:3.4 to 9.8) emerged as significant risk factors of violence against physicians.Conclusion A higher proportion of physicians at the early to mid-level stages of their careers, especially those in rotating shifts and surgery-related departments, reported incidence of WPV. Urgent intervention from policy-makers and healthcare entities is imperative to implement preventive measures. Strengthening security measures, establishing antiviolence policies and providing comprehensive training programmes are crucial steps towards ensuring a safer work environment for healthcare professionals.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/3/e080244.full |
| spellingShingle | Monjur Rahman Ashish Paul Mohammad Jahid Hasan Tanzeema Younus Sarkar Mostak Ahmed Aporna Banik Salwa Islam Mir Susmita Zaman Faiza Mahmud Md Nazmus Sakib Anamica Dev Md Jakaria Hossain Jannatul Fardous Nahida Hannan Nishat Violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a facility-based cross-sectional study BMJ Open |
| title | Violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh: a facility-based cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | violence against physicians working in public tertiary care hospital of bangladesh a facility based cross sectional study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/3/e080244.full |
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