Workplace Violence toward Physicians and Nurses: Prevalence and Correlates in Macau

Teris Cheung, Paul H. Lee and Paul S. F. Yip
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Teris Cheung: School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Paul H. Lee: School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Paul S. F. Yip: Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-15

Abstract: This paper sets out to estimate the prevalence of workplace violence in relation to socio-demographic characteristics of physicians and nurses working in healthcare settings in Macau. Background : Concerted efforts worldwide to reduce workplace violence (WPV) have not yet removed medical-related professionals from the threat of patients’, family members’, and colleagues’ physical and other assaults in Southeast Asia. Methods : The study employs a cross-sectional design to estimate the prevalence and examines the socio-economic and psychological correlates of WPV among medical doctors and nurses in Macau. The data collection period spanned from August to December 2014. Multiple logistic regression examines the prevalence rates of WPV and its associated factors in doctors and nurses. Results : A total of 107 doctors (14.9%) and 613 nurses (85.1%) participated in the study; 57.2% had suffered WPV in the preceding year. The most common forms of workplace violence were verbal abuse (53.4%), physical assault (16.1%), bullying/harassment (14.2%), sexual harassment (4.6%), and racial harassment (2.6%). Most violence was perpetrated by patients and their relatives, colleagues, and supervisors. Conclusions: WPV remains a significant concern in healthcare settings in Macau. Macau’s local health authority should consider putting in place a raft of zero-tolerance policies designed to prevent it.

Keywords: doctors; nurses; workplace violence; occupational stress; mental health; Macau (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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