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Changes in violence against healthcare professionals with the COVID-19 pandemic
, 2
Affiliations- Department of Family Medicine, Adiyaman Education and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Adiyaman University Medical Faculty, Adiyaman, Turkey
open access
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.
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
violence; COVID-19; healthcare professionals; workplace violence
About this articleTitle
Changes in violence against healthcare professionals with the COVID-19 pandemic
Journal
Disaster and Emergency Medicine Journal
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
75-82
Published online
2022-06-22
Page views
4292
Article views/downloads
285
DOI
Bibliographic record
Disaster Emerg Med J 2022;7(2):75-82.
Keywords
violence
COVID-19
healthcare professionals
workplace violence
Authors
Esra Kurt Canpolat
Umut Gulacti
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