Vol 7, No 2 (2022)
Research paper
Published online: 2022-06-22
Changes in violence against healthcare professionals with the COVID-19 pandemic
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Disaster Emerg Med J 2022;7(2):75-82.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: To investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected violence against healthcare professionals (HCPs). Background: Violence poses a severe threat to healthcare providers.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: All violence cases against HCPs reported in Adiyaman Training and Research Hospital were retrospectively examined in two different periods: between March 22, 2020–March 22, 2021 (pandemic period) and the previous year’s same times (pre-pandemic period).
RESULTS: Eighty-eight violence cases against HCPs occurred during the study period were included in the study. Of these cases, 64.8% occurred during the pre-pandemic period and 35.2% during the pandemic period. While the incidence of violence against HCP in the emergency department was 40.4% in the pre-pandemic period, it decreased to 29% in the pandemic period. While the most reason for resorting to violence was not wanting to wait in line in the pre-pandemic period, it was reported as hospital rule violations during the pandemic period.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that characteristics of violence against HCPs have changed in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: violenceCOVID-19healthcare professionalsworkplace violence
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