Health care personnel and workplace violence in the emergency departments of a volatile metropolis: results from Karachi, Pakistan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Workplace violence (WPV) is an important challenge faced by health care personnel in the emergency department (ED).

Study objectives

To determine the prevalence and nature of WPV reported by physicians and nurses working in the EDs of four of the largest tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan and to understand the mental health impact of experiencing WPV.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey was conducted between September and November 2008 using a widely used questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization. Overall, 266 (86% response rate) questionnaires were included in this study.

Results

A total of 44 (16.5%) physicians and nurses said they had been physically attacked, and 193 (72.5%) said that they had experienced verbal abuse in

SUBMITTER: Zafar W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4332856 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature