Workplace Violence and Harassment Against Emergency Medicine Residents

Abstract

IntroductionSeveral studies have shown that workplace violence in the emergency department (ED) is common. Residents may be among the most vulnerable staff, as they have the least experience with these volatile encounters. The goal for this study was to quantify and describe acts of violence against emergency medicine (EM) residents by patients and visitors and to identify perceived barriers to safety.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey study queried EM residents at multiple New York City hospitals. The primary outcome was the incidence of violence experienced by residents while working in the ED. The secondary outcomes were the subtypes of violence experienced by residents, as well as the perceived barriers to safety while at work.ResultsA majority of residents (66%, 78/119) reported experiencing at least one act of physical violence during an ED shift. Nearly all residents (97%, 115/119) experienced verbal harassment, 78% (93/119) had experienced verbal threats, and 52% (62/119) reported sexual harassment. Almost a quarter of residents felt safe “Occasionally,” “Seldom” or “Never” while at work. Patient-based factors most commonly cited as contributory to violence included substance use and psychiatric disease.ConclusionSelf-reported violence against EM residents appears to be a significant problem. Incidence of violence and patient risk factors are similar to what has been found previously for other ED staff. Understanding the prevalence of workplace violence as well as the related systems, environmental, and patient-based factors is essential for future prevention efforts.

Workplace violence among prehospital care providers in India: a cross-sectional study

“…There is a growing global focus on the development and retention of a healthy and sustainable healthcare workforce in low/middle-income countries (LMICs). Previous studies in the USA, Australia and LMICs report that 60.0%–87.5% of emergency healthcare providers (eg, nurses and physicians) experience some form of workplace violence (WPV) annually 1–8. WPV includes both physical and verbal assault from different perpetrators, including bystanders, patients, patients’ families and colleagues 9–11.…”

Prevalencia de violencia física, abuso verbal y factores asociados en trabajadores/as de servicios de emergencia en establecimientos de salud públicos y privados

“…En ambos tipos de violencia, tanto en los establecimientos públicos como en los privados, los principales agresores son los pacientes y familiares, resultados similares a lo evidenciado en múltiples otros trabajos 13,14,[31][32][33] . Cuando los pacientes reciben una atención que no cumple con sus expectativas, o perciben un trato injusto, o cuando no entienden lo que se les dice, o existe incertidumbre en sus tratamientos y pronósticos o sus vidas están en riesgo, aparecen diferentes emociones, tales como cólera, ansiedad y miedo, las que determinan el uso de palabras inadecuadas, de agresiones físicas o de provocación de episodios de violencia que involucran de alguna manera al personal sanitario, creando un ambiente de .…”

Emergency Medicine in the #MeToo Era

“…Physicians and staff may at times use humor, inappropriate language, or inappropriate behavior as a coping mechanism. A recent study of New York EDs found that most residents had experienced verbal harassment (97%), verbal threats (78%), and/or sexual harassment (52%) . Another recent study of 10 EM residencies found that most residents had experienced verbal abuse (86%) and verbal threats (68%) and significant numbers had experienced physical threats (50%), physical attacks (26%), sexual harassment (23%), or racial harassment (26%).…”