DOCTORS AND PARAMEDIC STAFF IN PAKISTAN FACING VIOLENCE AND AGRESSION IN HOSPITALS

Objectives:

To identify the frequency and consequences of workplace violence and possible factors related to physician and nurses in a public medical facility in Lahore, thus providing a basis for appropriate interventions.

Study Design:

Cross sectional study

Duration of Study:

The study was conducted aty outdoor and indoor in Mayo Hospital from april 2016 to June 2017.

Materials and Methods:

The research is based on samples of 150 respondents. The respondents include doctors and nurses. Data was analysed using (SPSS) version 17.

Results:

There were more than 2/3 of the respondents (n = 101 / 150) about 67 %, who were victims of violent abuse (n = a little more than 12 months and (87 / 101) 86% of them were the main types of aggression encountered. About 61/101 (60%) of violent victims reported and most (25/61, 41%) have reported them to colleagues only. The most common reason of not reporting was "No previous action" 75%. The most common attacker, the patient’s family (n = 68 / 101, 68%) followed by the patient himself (n = 31 / 101, 31%). Overcrowding and lack of security have been cited as the main causes of such incidents.

Conclusion:

Health care workers in public hospitals in Punjab are often subject to aggression and violence, and it are associated with many adverse consequences, that includes high levels of stress at workplace. A safer environment for hospitals and appropriate precautionary measures including occupational support are needed for the worker to work in a safe and peaceful environment leading to better performance.