Workplace Violence in the Healthcare Sector. A review of the Literature

Abstract: Background: Healthcare workers are most at risk and most vulnerable toworkplace violence (WPV) when compared to other professions. Despite highrates of exposure to violence, it is highly underreported.Aim: To identify the prevalence rate of WPV and the existing demographicrelationship to WPV in the healthcare sector. To check for risk factors and healthimplications of this type of WPV on victims. Also, this research work intends tohighlight the proposed strategies and interventions that can be used to mitigateagainst this type of WPV.Methods: To achieve this aim, a literature review methodology was employed.The Malmö university library and google scholar search engines were utilizedwith several inclusion criteria to arrive at a total of 24 articles for this review.Results: Prevalence rate for WPV is high with the prevalence for non-physicalviolence being higher than physical violence. Age and years of experienceshowed a significant relationship with being a victim of WPV while gender didnot provide a conclusive result. There were few cases of physical injuries but ahigh percentage of victims of nonphysical violence suffered from psychologicaltrauma such as fear, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder - PTSD, andanxiety. Prevention strategies and interventions have been recommended byvictims and researchers of WPV.Conclusion: WPV is an existing phenomenon with adverse effects which reducethe quality of lives and services of workers. There is need for effective preventivemethods to reduce WPV such as the implementation of zero-tolerance policy toWPV, the presence of police officers in at-risk health care facilities andinvolvement of victims in the development of prevention strategies.