Abstract
ObjectivesThis study assessed patterns in reported violence against doctors working in 11 Baghdad hospitals providing care for patients with COVID-19 and explored characteristics of hospital violence and its impact on health workers.MethodsQuestionnaires were completed by 505 hospital doctors (38.6% male, 64.4% female) working in 11 Baghdad hospitals. No personal or identifying information was obtained.FindingsOf 505 doctors, 446 (87.3%) had experienced hospital violence in the previous 6 months. Doctors reported that patients were responsible for 95 (21.3%) instances of violence, patient family or relatives for 322 (72.4%), police or military personnel for 19 (4.3%), and other sources for 9 (2%). The proportion of violent events reported did not differ between male and female doctors, although characteristics varied. There were 415 of the 505 doctors who reported that violence had increased since the beginning of the pandemic, and many felt the situation would only get worse. COVID-19 has heightened tensions in an already violent health workplace, further increasing risks to patients and health providers.InterpretationDuring the COVID-19 epidemic in Iraq an already violent hospital environment in Baghdad has only worsened. The physical and emotional toll on health workers is high which further threatens patient care and hospital productivity. While more security measures can be taken, reducing health workplace violence requires other measures such as improved communication, and addressing issues of patient care.
Highlights
Violence against health care workers is defined as incidents where workers are abused, threatened or assaulted in relation to their work and involving an explicit or implicit challenge to their safety, well-being or health [1]
This study reveals a distressing pattern of increasing violence against Iraqi doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic amidst ongoing non-international armed conflict and popular demonstrations against corruption and dysfunctional governance
If answered YES, what are probable reasons? Hospital security fails to protect medical staff Lack of medicines and supplies Patients perceived poor medical and health services Overload of COVID-19 cases on the intensive care unit People panic from risk of death in hospitals Aggressive attitude due to general population unrest Insufficient beds for the increased numbers of patients Rapid exacerbation of the illness leading to an unexpected death Fear of quarantine Patient relatives fear becoming infected while visiting in the hospital
Summary
Violence against health care workers is defined as incidents where workers are abused, threatened or assaulted in relation to their work and involving an explicit or implicit challenge to their safety, well-being or health [1]. Workplace violence makes healthcare the most dangerous of occupations [2, 3]. The need to better document violence against health care has been cited, during times of conflict or civil strife [6]. Perpetrators are commonly the family of patients, if not the patients themselves, but there may be tribal actions, and even popular or collective demonstrations against healthcare workers. This is especially true in disaster and conflict situations. The consequences of violence to health care workers are substantial. An atmosphere of health workplace violence has a negative effect on the provision of care [2]
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