Violence against healthcare workers during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Egypt: a cross-sectional study

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Elsaid N.M.A.B.; Ibrahim O.; Abdel-Fatah Z.F.; Hassan H.A.; Hegazy M.A.H.; Anwar M.M.; Soliman H.H.

Journal: Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

Publication Date: 14 October 2022

Volume / Issue: Volume 12 / Issue 1

Article No.: 45

ISSN: 2090536X

DOI: 10.1186/s41935-022-00304-3

Scopus: View on Scopus

Document Type: Article

Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access

Authors and Affiliations

Elsaid N.M.A.B., Department of Public Health, Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, King Salman International University, South Sinai, Egypt; Ibrahim O., Psychiatry & Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt; Abdel-Fatah Z.F., Department of Public Health, Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt; Hassan H.A., Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Suez University, Suez, Egypt; Hegazy M.A.H., Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Anwar M.M., Forensic Medicine & Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt; Soliman H.H., Department of Public Health, Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers are on the front lines of COVID-19 and are subject to risks. A rise in the cases of violence and aggressiveness against HCWs has been observed worldwide, adding to the already existing burnout. The purpose of this research is to determine the prevalence of workplace violence, its risk variables, and the pattern of violence directed towards healthcare workers in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. The research used a cross-sectional analytic design. Purposive sampling was utilized to identify research participants using an online survey. Form’s link was distributed to accessible social media groups such as Facebook and WhatsApp from July 2020 to the end of October 2020. A self-administered structured survey was adapted from the World Health Organization survey questionnaire about violence in healthcare settings. The Google Form’s link was distributed to the social media groups until the total sample of 405 was collected. Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace violence against Egyptian healthcare workers was prevalent (63.2%). The most prevailing type of violence among the exposed participants was verbal violence (87.9%). Violence is more common in the (< 40 years old) age group (80.9% of exposed healthcare workers). Violence was more statistically significant against females (60.5% of the exposed healthcare workers) (p-value = 0.023). Regarding the work specialty, violence was more committed against physicians (84.3% of exposed healthcare workers) than nurses (12.8% of exposed healthcare workers). The primary perpetrators of violence were the patient’s family (74.6%). The majority of the exposed HCWs (96%) reported no physical injury from the violent event, and 71.5% deemed the violent incident preventable. The majority (90.6%) of HCWs exposed to violent incidents declared non-reporting. Conclusions: Effective risk communication at all levels of society is critical for reducing fear, stigma, and ultimately workplace violence, as recent assaults on healthcare institutions demonstrate. To reduce violence and safeguard the safety of the medical profession, the government, health policymakers, media organizations, and community engagement groups must collaborate for healthcare workers’ safety. © 2022, The Author(s).

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic; Egypt; Healthcare workers; Types of violence; Workplace violence

Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 21

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