The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and risk factors of workplace violence among healthcare workers in China

Qi, Miao; Hu, Xiuli; Li, Jun; Wen, Jing; Hu, Xue; Wang, Zhizhong; Shi, Xiuquan

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.938423

Cited by 18 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In the present study, the prevalence of workplace violence was at a high level and was 64.2%, 53.2%, and 50.5% for wave 1, wave 2, and wave 3, respectively. A previous study found that workplace violence against health professionals decreased as the pandemic continued in mainland China ( 29 ). Studies have found that workplace violence triggered burnout among HPs ( 29 , 43 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…A previous study found that workplace violence against health professionals decreased as the pandemic continued in mainland China ( 29 ). Studies have found that workplace violence triggered burnout among HPs ( 29 , 43 ). Saifur also found workplace violence-exposed nurses were at a greater risk of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic ( 44 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Workplace violence (WPV) including the experience of WPV and witnessing WPV was measured using the Chinese version of the Workplace Violence Scale, a scale with proven good reliability and validity to measure violence including physical, mental, and verbal violence that was experienced in the past 12 months ( 29 ). The survey provided specific definitions of each type of violence.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and correlators of burnout among health professionals during different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Qin

Yang

et al. 2023

Front. Psychiatry

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BackgroundPersistently increased workload and stress occurred in health professionals (HPs) during the past 3 years as the COVID-19 pandemic continued. The current study seeks to explore the prevalence of and correlators of HPs' burnout during different stages of the pandemic.MethodsThree repeated online studies were conducted in different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: wave 1: after the first peak of the pandemic, wave 2: the early period of the zero-COVID policy, and wave 3: the second peak of the pandemic in China. Two dimensions of burnout, emotional exhaustion (EE) and declined personal accomplishment (DPA), were assessed using Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSMP), a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and a 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) to assess mental health conditions. An unconditional logistic regression model was employed to discern the correlators.ResultsThere was an overall prevalence of depression (34.9%), anxiety (22.5%), EE (44.6%), and DPA (36.5%) in the participants; the highest prevalence of EE and DPA was discovered in the first wave (47.4% and 36.5%, respectively), then the second wave (44.9% and 34.0%), and the third wave had the lowest prevalence of 42.3% and 32.2%. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were persistently correlated with a higher prevalence risk of both EE and DPA. Workplace violence led to a higher prevalence risk of EE (wave 1: OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.16–1.63), and women (wave 1: OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.00–1.42; wave 3: OR =1.20, 95% CI:1.01–1.44) and those living in a central area (wave 2: OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.20–2.31) or west area (wave 2: OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.26–1.87) also had a higher prevalence risk of EE. In contrast, those over 50 years of age (wave 1: OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.96; wave 3: OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.38–0.95) and who provided care to patients with COVID-19 (wave 2: OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57–0.92) had a lower risk of EE. Working in the psychiatry section (wave 1: OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.01–1.89) and being minorities (wave 2: OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04–1.58) had a higher risk of DPA, while those over 50 years of age had a lower risk of DPA (wave 3: OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.36–0.88).ConclusionThis three-wave cross-sectional study revealed that the prevalence of burnout among health professionals was at a high level persistently during the different stages of the pandemic. The results suggest that functional impairment prevention resources and programs may be inadequate and, as such, continuous monitoring of these variables could provide evidence for developing optimal strategies for saving human resources in the coming post-pandemic era.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and correlators of burnout among health professionals during different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Qin

Yang

et al. 2023

Front. Psychiatry

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“…The percentage of emergency physicians experiencing any type of WPV was greatly higher than the overall prevalence of WPV against Chinese ED clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic (29.2%) [ 19 ]. Similarly, the prevalence of WPV against Chinese HCWs decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic [ 23 , 24 ]. The improved doctor–patient relationship and doctor–patient trust during the COVID-19 pandemic may interpret the variation to some degree [ 24 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and predictors of workplace violence against emergency physicians in China: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2023

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Background Workplace violence (WPV) is considered a global problem, particularly in the health sector; however, no studies have assessed the national prevalence of WPV against emergency physicians and the associated factors in China. Methods A national cross-sectional survey was conducted in 31 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities across China between July 2019 and September 2019. A total of 15 455 emergency physicians were selected using a multistage stratified random sampling method. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on WPV and potential associated factors among emergency physicians. Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the predictors of WPV. Results A total of 14 848 emergency physicians responded effectively (effective response rate: 96.07%). Of the respondents, 90.40%, 51.45%, and 90.00% reported exposure to any type of WPV, physical or nonphysical violence in the preceding year, respectively. Verbal aggression (87.25%) was the most common form of violence, followed by threat (71.09%), physical assault (48.24%), verbal sexual harassment (38.13%), and sexual assault (19.37%). Patients’ families were the main perpetrators of these incidents. Unmet patient needs, taking drugs or drinking, and long waiting times were the main contributors to WPV. Physicians who were from low-developed regions, female, and without shift work were less likely to have experienced any type of WPV. Chinese emergency physicians who were from medium-developed regions, had a bachelor’s degree, worked in a higher level hospital, had a higher professional title, with lower incomes, had a history of hypertension or coronary heart disease, were smokers or drinkers, and worked in hospitals without preventive measures or training for WPV and not encouraging to report WPV were more likely to have experienced any type of WPV. The predictors of WPV varied in different types of WPV. Conclusions This study shows that the prevalence of WPV against emergency physicians is high in China. Measures should be taken at the physicians, patients, hospital, and national levels to protect GPs from WPV; for example, improving physicians’ level of service and hospital’ reporting procedures. Creating a prevention strategy and providing a safer workplace environment for emergency physicians should be prioritized.

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“…A possible explanation for this difference is that, in contrast to the present data, none of those studies compared data on the incidence of WPA before and during the pandemic. However, a recent study analyzing data from 2020 and 2021 also found a decrease in the prevalence of WPA among HCWs the year after the onset of the pandemic ( 20 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Workplace aggression against healthcare workers in a Spanish healthcare institution between 2019 and 2021: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Díaz

Utzet

Mirabent

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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ObjectivesDescribe the incidence of first aggressions among healthcare workers (HCWs) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Spanish healthcare institution, according to workers' socio-occupational characteristics and analyze the impact of the pandemic on it.MethodsA cohort involving HCWs who worked in the institution for at least 1 week each year from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021. Adjusted relative risks (aRR) were estimated using generalized estimating equations and negative binomial models to calculate the differences in WPA between the different time periods. All analyses were stratified by gender.ResultsAmong women, the incidence was 6.8% (6.0; 7.8) during the pre-COVID-19 period, 6.0% (5.2; 7.0) during the COVID-19 baseline and 5.1% (4.3; 5.9) during the COVID-19 endline; and 4.6% (3.4; 6.1), 5.3% (4.1; 6.8) and 4.4% (3.5; 5.8), respectively, among men. Among men, the incidence of WPA was 4.6 (3.4; 6.1), 5.3 (4.1; 6.8), and 4.4% (3.5; 5.8), respectively. These incidences were significantly higher among male nurses and aides [11.1 (8.0; 15.4), 12.3 (8.9; 16.6), and 9.3% (6.5; 13.3) during each period] and psychiatric center workers [women: 14.7 (11.2; 19.0), 15.4 (11.8; 19.8), and 12.4% (9.2; 16.6); men: 12.3 (7.2; 20.0), 17.8 (11.6; 26.2), and 14.3% (8.8; 22.4)]. Among women, the risk of WPA was 23% lower in the post-COVID-19 period compared to before the pandemic [aRR = 0.77 (0.64; 0.93)], while the risk during the COVID-19 baseline was not significantly different [aRR = 0.89 (0.74; 1.06)].ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic led to an unexpected decrease in first-time WPA against HCWs. However, ~5% of HCWs experienced at least one incidence of aggression in the last follow-up year. Healthcare managers should continue to increase the prevention of aggression against HCWs, especially among vulnerable groups with a higher level of incidence.

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence and risk factors of workplace violence among healthcare workers in China

Cited by 18 publications

References 54 publications

Prevalence and correlators of burnout among health professionals during different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Prevalence and correlators of burnout among health professionals during different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Prevalence and predictors of workplace violence against emergency physicians in China: a cross-sectional study

Workplace aggression against healthcare workers in a Spanish healthcare institution between 2019 and 2021: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

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