Workplace violence towards workers in the emergency department in secondary healthcare center in Tunisia: Aggressor and aggrieved specificities and gender consideration

Abstract

Background Throughout recent years, Workplace violence in hospital emergency departments has become common problem. Thus, rate of emergency departments workers who are experiencing it is increasing significantly especially since Tunisian revolution. Closely related to reduced job satisfaction and performance. The objective of this study was to have an overview the characteristics of Workplace violence against workers in emergency departments in a secondary healthcare center in Tunisia. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in the emergency department in Sidi Bouzid Hospital. The study investigated all types of violence against Emergency department workers including physicians, nurses, admission/registration personnel and security officers. Assaults that occurred during the year of study were included. Data were collected from registers, medical certificate files and interviews with aggressor and aggrieved from October 2014 till October 2015. Socio-demographic characteristics of both of them as well as types of violence were recorded. Data were verified and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), software version 18.0. Results A total of 110 participants were enrolled: 27 (25%) physicians, 45 nurses (41%), 16 security officer (14%), 18 workmen (16%) and 4 administrative personnel (4%). The majority (56%) experienced at least one type of work place violence in the past 12 months: 29% exposed to physical violence, 41% to non-physical assaults or verbal abuses and 30% experienced both types of violence. Males were more prone to violence than females (61% vs. 31%). Same results were reported regarding type of violence (physical/verbal). In fact, in either types men were more concerned but insignificant statistically (P = 0.86). Regarding aggressors profile, our results showed that they are mostly males (77%) with a mean age of 36 years (± 12). They were dunk/intoxicated and suffering from mental disorders in 47% and 12% among all cases, respectively. Conclusion Violence against workers in emergency departments is highly common. All categories are affected. Neither men nor women are exempted even if our results concluded a male predominance. All stakeholders should collaborate in order to prevent and tackle this problem.