Citation

Xing K, Jiao M, Ma H, Qiao H, Hao Y, Li Y, Gao L, Sun H, Kang Z, Liang L, Wu Q. PLoS One 2015; 10(11): e0142954.

Affiliation

Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Public Library of Science)

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0142954

PMID

26571388

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors of physical violence in Chinese township hospitals.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was used in a sample of 442 general practitioners and 398 general nurses from 90 township hospitals located in Heilongjiang province, China (response rate = 84.8%).

RESULTS: A total of 106 of the 840 (12.6%) respondents reported being physically attacked in their workplace in the previous 12 months. Most perpetrators were the patients' relatives (62.3%), followed by the patient (22.6%); 73.6% of perpetrators were aged between 20 and 40 years. Of the physical violence incidents, about 56.6% (n = 60) resulted in a physical injury, and 45.4% of respondents took two or three days of sick leave. Reporting workplace violence in hospitals to superiors or authorities was low (9.4%). Most respondents (62.8%) did not receive training on how to avoid workplace violence. Logistic regression analyses indicated that general nurses, aged 35 years or younger, and with a higher-level professional title were more likely to experience physical violence. Healthcare workers with direct physical contact (washing, turning, lifting) with patients had a higher risk of physical violence compared to other health care workers. Procedures for reporting workplace violence were a protective factor for physical violence; when in place, reporting after psychological violence (verbal abuse, bullying/mobbing, harassment, and threats) was more protective than waiting until an instance of physical violence (beating, kicking, slapping, stabbing, etc.).

CONCLUSIONS: Physical violence in Chinese township hospitals is an occupational hazard of rural public health concern. Policies, procedures, and intervention strategies should be undertaken to manage this issue.

Language: en