Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Impact of Workplace Violence among Physicians

Biplov Adhikari; Roshan Subedi; Rahul Kumar Thakur; Milan Thapa; Sauharda Singh Karki; Bibek Dhungana; Amrit Devkota; Bibek KC; Mohan Thakurathi; Adheesh Bhattarai; Barun Kumar Ray; Bijay Phuyal; Prabhat Sharma; Saugat  Devkota; Jog Adhikari

doi:10.33314/jnhrc.v20i3.4008

Biplov Adhikari Mulpani Primary Health Center, Mulpani, Kathmandu, Nepal
Roshan Subedi Department of Internal Medicine, Rochester Regional Health, Unity Hospital, Rochester, New York, USA
Rahul Kumar Thakur Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Jacobi medical center, Bronx, New York, USA,
Milan Thapa Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sauharda Singh Karki BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Bibek Dhungana KIST Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal
Amrit Devkota BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Bibek KC KIST Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal
Mohan Thakurathi BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Adheesh Bhattarai Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal
Barun Kumar Ray BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Bijay Phuyal BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Prabhat Sharma Department of Medicine, Shankarapur Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Saugat Devkota Nepal Medical College Pvt. Ltd, Kathmandu, Nepal
Jog Adhikari Nepal Medical College Pvt. Ltd, Kathmandu, Nepal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v20i3.4008

Abstract

Background: There is a dearth of objective data and studies pertaining to the prevalence and consequences of workplace violence against physicians in Nepal. This study aims to assess the prevalence, associated factors, and implications of workplace violence on Nepalese physicians.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from March 2021 to August 2021. Nepal Medical Council-certified physicians currently working in Nepal were included in the study. Baseline characteristics, types of violence experienced, patterns, psychosocial impacts, and changes in patient management were collected.
Results: Out of 318 responses received, 302 responses met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. One-hundred and ninety (62.9%) respondents had ever faced workplace violence. Madhesh Province had the highest prevalence (81.5%). Verbal abuse (93.2%) was the most common type of violence encountered. We found a significant association between workplace violence and hours worked each week. We also found an association between workplace violence and years of experience. Our study found a significant increase in stress/depression/anxiety/idea of persecution, sense of defeat, job turnover, and loss of productivity/income with the increase in severity of workplace violence.
Conclusions: Workplace violence is largely prevalent among Nepalese physicians. In the aftermath of workplace violence, a physician can undergo a multitude of adverse psychosocial consequences leading to a further decrease in productivity. More insights through research, formal training, and policy implementation are necessary to overcome this largely ignored problem of the medical fraternity in Nepal.
Keywords: Abuse; Nepal; physicians; workplace violence.