Workplace violence towards Congolese health care workers: A survey of 436 healthcare facilities in Katanga province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Workplace violence towards Congolese health care workers: A survey of 436 healthcare facilities in Katanga province, Democratic Republic of Congo
复制标题
DOI：
10.1539/joh.14-0111-oa
复制
发表时间：
2015-01-01
影响因子：
3
通讯作者：
Suganuma, Narufumi
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Muzembo, Basilua Andre;Mbutshu, Lukuke Hendrick;Suganuma, Narufumi
目的：这项研究的目的是调查刚果医院中病人或其亲属在工作场所对保健工作者的暴力行为。研究方法：2012年秋季，对刚果加丹加省436家医院的2 210名注册医务人员（989名男性和1 221名女性，年龄33岁以上/8岁以下）进行了关于工作场所暴力的横断面调查。记录了患者或其亲属在前一年内实施的言语攻击、骚扰和身体暴力沿着导致暴力的因素，答复率为99%。结果：80.1%的医务人员曾遭受过一种或多种工作场所暴力。总体而言，工作场所暴力的严重程度从言语攻击（57.4%）和骚扰（15.2%）到身体暴力（7.5%）不等。患者是言语攻击和骚扰的主要肇事者，而患者的亲属主要参与身体暴力。工作场所暴力的频率在医院之间相似。男性保健工作者更有可能成为身体暴力的受害者，而女性保健工作者则是骚扰的主要目标。只有34.3%的暴力事件向主管报告。此外，68.8%的卫生保健工作者认为，不尊重医疗义务是工作场所暴力的主要原因。结论：尽管医务人员在刚果社会历来受到高度尊重，但病人或其亲属在工作场所对医务人员实施的暴力行为并未得到官方承认。对这一问题的进一步研究可能为打击刚果医院中的暴力行为提供机会。
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate workplace violence by patients or their relatives towards health-care workers in Congolese hospitals. Methods: Through the autumn of 2012, a cross-sectional survey on workplace violence was conducted in a sample of 2,210 registered health-care workers (989 males and 1,221 females, aged 33 +/- 8 years) from 436 hospitals located in the province of Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Verbal aggression, harassment and physical violence perpetrated by patients or their relatives within the previous year along with factors contributing to violence, were recorded, and the response rate was 99%. Results: About 80.1% of the health-care workers had experienced one or more types of workplace violence. Overall, the severity of workplace violence varied from verbal aggression (57.4%) and harassment (15.2%) to physical violence (7.5%). Patients were the major perpetrators of verbal aggression and harassment, whereas patients' relatives were mainly involved in physical violence. The frequency of workplace violence was similar across hospitals. Male health-care workers were more likely to be victims of physical violence, whereas female health-care workers were the prime target for harassment. Only 34.3% of the violent episodes were reported to a supervisor. Furthermore, disrespect for medical deontology was the main cause of workplace violence perceived by 68.8% of the health-care workers. Conclusions: Although it has not been officially recognized, there has been workplace violence towards health-care workers perpetrated by patients or their relatives despite the fact that health-care workers have traditionally been highly respected in Congolese society. Further studies on this issue may suggest opportunities for combating violence in Congolese hospitals.