TY - JOUR
T1 - Workplace Violence Against Physicians Treating COVID-19 Patients in Peru
T2 - A Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Muñoz del Carpio-Toia, Agueda
AU - Begazo Muñoz del Carpio, Lucía
AU - Mayta-Tristan, Percy
AU - Alarcón-Yaquetto, Dulce Esperanza
AU - Málaga, Germán
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Joint Commission
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge to health systems that has revealed shortcomings and increased unmet demands. Such situations might exacerbate workplace violence (WPV) against physicians, as has been reported in several parts of the world. Methods: To identify the frequency and characteristics of WPV suffered by physicians attending COVID-19 patients in Peru, a descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with an online survey of 200 physicians. Results: Of the survey respondents, 84.5% had suffered some type of WPV; 97.6% of these suffered nonphysical violence. Suffering more than one incident of violence was reported by 75.7% of respondents. The primary aggressor was a patient's family member or caregiver. Violence occurred most frequently in critical areas inside the health service facility, such as COVID-19 triage, tents, and hospital units, although it also occurred during teleconsultations. Multiple shortcomings of the health services were perceived as the main trigger of violence. Being a female physician (odds ratio [OR] = 2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06–5.83) and working in a COVID-19 ICU (OR = 5.84, 95% CI = 1.60–21.28) were the main factors associated with WPV. Conclusion: Violence against physicians attending COVID-19 patients in Peru is common. The perceived factors that contribute most to violence are linked to deficiencies in health services.
AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge to health systems that has revealed shortcomings and increased unmet demands. Such situations might exacerbate workplace violence (WPV) against physicians, as has been reported in several parts of the world. Methods: To identify the frequency and characteristics of WPV suffered by physicians attending COVID-19 patients in Peru, a descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with an online survey of 200 physicians. Results: Of the survey respondents, 84.5% had suffered some type of WPV; 97.6% of these suffered nonphysical violence. Suffering more than one incident of violence was reported by 75.7% of respondents. The primary aggressor was a patient's family member or caregiver. Violence occurred most frequently in critical areas inside the health service facility, such as COVID-19 triage, tents, and hospital units, although it also occurred during teleconsultations. Multiple shortcomings of the health services were perceived as the main trigger of violence. Being a female physician (odds ratio [OR] = 2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06–5.83) and working in a COVID-19 ICU (OR = 5.84, 95% CI = 1.60–21.28) were the main factors associated with WPV. Conclusion: Violence against physicians attending COVID-19 patients in Peru is common. The perceived factors that contribute most to violence are linked to deficiencies in health services.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85110528090&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jcjq.2021.06.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jcjq.2021.06.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 34257040
AN - SCOPUS:85110528090
SN - 1553-7250
VL - 47
SP - 637
EP - 645
JO - Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
JF - Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
IS - 10
ER -