Inadequacy of interventions to eliminate or reduce violence against healthcare professionals by patients and/or their relatives

Abstract

Workplace violence (Type II), which is defined as verbal, physical and sexual assault behaviour directed at healthcare workers by patients and their relatives, is a complex concept arising from a variety of individual, social, economic, cultural and political factors. Despite differences in its definition, classification, and the destructive consequences it produces, workplace violence is a growing public health issue worldwide. It affects not only the healthcare worker who experiences it, but also the institution where the incident occurs, other patients and their families, and the perpetrator of the violent act. Every year, countless healthcare workers are harmed. The violence prevention strategies introduced by governments are aimed at managing violence and are still far from permanent and functional solutions. Permanent and effective solutions require a thorough and comprehensive approach to the issue. This study evaluates the effectiveness of workplace violence prevention programmes in line with the current literature. Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention interventions are addressed in depth. It is evident that intervention programmes alone, at any one level, are insufficient to eliminate workplace violence and that a comprehensive programme is required. Additionally, the necessity of eliminating the risk factors that cause workplace violence, rather than merely managing them, is discussed. The results of this study are expected to inform health policy.

Keywords: Workplace violence; Workplace violence among healthcare workers; Workplace violence intervention programmes

Core Tip: Workplace violence has become an escalating global public health concern, affecting a growing number of healthcare workers each year. Countless professionals suffer physical, psychological, and occupational harm as a result of such incidents. Government-implemented violence prevention strategies have largely focused on the management of violent episodes rather than their prevention, offering limited and short-term solutions. However, sustainable and effective outcomes require a broad and integrated approach that addresses the issue comprehensively. Intervention programs implemented at a single level-whether individual, organizational, or societal-have proven insufficient on their own. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive, multi-level intervention framework that simultaneously targets all contributing factors. The results of such an approach are expected to inform public health policies and guide the development of evidence-based strategies to protect healthcare workers and improve workplace safety.