Workplace Violence against Registered Doctors in Nepal

Abstract

Background: Workplace violence against health workers is rising globally. This study aimed to assess the nationwide prevalence and associated factors of workplace violence against Nepal Medical Council-registered Nepali doctors.
Methods: A nationwide web-based study was conducted among 420 Nepal Medical Council-registered Nepali doctors using a Google form. Data was cleaned and coded in Ms Excel 2021 and then analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21.0. Frequencies and proportions were calculated for categorical variables. Chi-square test was used to assess the associations between different independent variables with presence of workplace violence, taking p-value of less than 0.05 as statistically significant. Significant variables from bivariate analysis were fitted in binomial logistic regression model to determine strength of association at 95% confidence interval.
Results: Overall, 196 (46.67%) doctors experienced some form of workplace violence, with verbal abuse being the commonest (194; 46.19%). No action was taken against perpetrators in 11 (42.31%) physical violence, 125 (64.43%) verbal abuse and 15 (71.43%) racial harassment cases. Doctors working in more than two clinics/hospitals (AOR 4.09, p-value 0.007, 95% CI 1.50-11.48) and having zero vacations in the last six months (AOR 3.08, p-value 0.036, 95% CI 1.07-8.82) were found to be at higher risk of physical violence. Verbal abuse was more likely among those working in government hospitals (AOR 0.55, p-value 0.004, 95% CI 0.37-0.83) and working over 48 hours a week (AOR 1.89, p-value 0.003, 95% CI 1.25-2.86).
Conclusions: The burden of workplace violence was notably high in Nepal (46.67%), mainly verbal abuse (46.19%). Long working hours, lack of rest and working in multiple clinics/hospitals were the contributing factors.
Keywords: Doctors; Nepal; workplace violence.