Abstract

The increasing level of violence against doctors in the workplace is a major source of stress for these healthcare workers. Numerous incidents of workplace violence against doctors have been reported in the past and continue to be reported in different parts of the country and around the world. Healthcare workers are primarily exposed to reactive violence from patients and their caregivers, which affects their mental and physical well-being. When employees are stressed about safety, it can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affecting work performance and leading to burnout. It also negatively impacts patients who are deprived of quality care that meets their real needs during difficult times. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of workplace violence among doctors in healthcare settings in Kashmir. The required sample size with a 95% confidence interval and a prevalence of 54.9% was estimated at 417 and derived using convenience sampling. The cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested and pre-designed, semi-structured questionnaire. Results showed that 75% of doctors reported having experienced workplace violence in the past 12 months. Medical, surgical and related emergency services reported 100% of abuse cases. The obstetrics and gynecology department reported 97.5% of violent crimes, while the medical and allied departments reported 88.2% of violent crimes. Maximum (95.6%) of the reported cases involved verbal abuse and 1.91% physical abuse. Many doctors have faced violence in hospitals in Kashmir over the past 12 months. Verbal abuse has become the most common form of violence among doctors.

Description