Abstract
Workplace physical violence against health care professionals perpetrated by patients and visitors has been a persistent problem worldwide. Prevalence estimates varied vastly across studies and there was a lack of quantitative syntheses of prevalence studies. This review aimed to quantify pooled one-year prevalence estimates at the global and regional levels. A systematic literature search was performed in the databases of PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Embase between 1 January 2000 and 8 October 2018. Studies providing information about one-year prevalence of self-reported workplace physical violence against health care professionals perpetrated by patients or visitors were included. Heterogeneity between studies was evaluated using Cochran’s chi-squared test (Cochran’s Q) and I2 values. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were used to explore heterogeneity. A total of 65 eligible studies reported one-year prevalence estimates for 61,800 health care professionals from 30 countries. The pooled one-year prevalence of workplace physical violence against health care professionals perpetrated by patients or visitors was 19.33% (95% confidence interval (CI): 16.49–22.53%) and the overall heterogeneity was high across studies. We noted geographic and staff categories variations for prevalence estimates through subgroup analysis. The meta-regression showed that sample size, type of health care setting, and quality score were significant moderators for heterogeneity. One in five health care professionals experienced workplace physical violence perpetrated by patients or visitors worldwide annually. Practical intervention was needed to ensure safety of health care professionals.
Highlights
Workplace physical violence against health care professionals has been a persistent problem of health care environment worldwide [1,2]
For the regional level, pooled one-year prevalence of workplace physical violence against health care professionals perpetrated by patients or visitors was 26.38% in the European region, 23.61% in the Americas region, 20.71% in the African region, 17.07% in the eastern Mediterranean region, 14.53% in the Western Pacific region, and 5.62% in the Southeast Asia region
Using meta-analytical methods, we pooled the one-year prevalence estimates of workplace physical violence against health care professionals perpetrated by patients or visitors reported in 65 studies published between 2000 and 2018
Summary
Workplace physical violence against health care professionals has been a persistent problem of health care environment worldwide [1,2]. Of workplace assaults victims were health care professionals in the United States. Workplace violence can have multiple negative consequences that result in physical consequences [5], and psychological consequences for health care professionals [6,7]. Workplace violence was associated with the intention to quit job [8], burnout [7], and decreased job satisfaction [9] among health care professionals. Those consequences of workplace violence can lead to decreased productivity and
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