New Delhi:Surveys conducted by physicians, nurses and paramedics in Indian Emergency Departments (EDs) revealed that workplace violence (WPV) in this critical department is an increasingly recognised challenge healthcare providers face in India.
According to the latest survey report highlighted by the International Journal of Emergency Medicine, verbal abuse, physical abuse, outside confrontation and stalking are some of the major issues healthcare providers are facing at present.
“Two hundred surveys were completed by physicians, nurses and paramedics in Indian EDs. Most reported events involved verbal abuse (68 per cent), followed by physical abuse (26 per cent), outside confrontation (17 per cent) and stalking (5 per cent). By far, the most common perpetrators of violence against healthcare workers were bystanders, including patient family members or other accompanying individuals. Notably, reporting was limited, with most cases conveyed to ED or hospital administration,” the report stated.
This study, violence in the Emergency Department: A Quantitative Survey Study of Healthcare Providers in India, aims to gain insight into the incidence and characteristics of WPV among ED healthcare providers in India.
The emergency department is especially susceptible to violence due to stressors, including high patient volume, acuity of illness, rotating staff and late working hours. Previous studies on violence in EDs have predominantly centred on developed countries with established laws and legal repercussions for violence against healthcare providers.
Limited research exists in low-resource settings where regulations protecting healthcare providers are less common. In such settings, emergency medicine is still developing and clear laws, regulations and enforcement mechanisms may be lacking in the ED. Patients may misunderstand available care in the ED and feel their needs are not met, potentially further exacerbating the risk of violence against healthcare workers.
Existing studies in low- and middle-income countries, including India, often focus on a single type of provider such as physicians, nurses, or paramedics. To address violence against emergency healthcare providers in India and resource-limited settings, understanding the issues related to violence in EDs is crucial.
“While this study revealed insights into ED providers’ unique challenges in India, its qualitative nature limits its generalisability, prompting a quantitative survey among ED healthcare providers at two Indian emergency departments. This study aims to understand better the issues surrounding WPV experienced by ED providers in India. This multicentre, quantitative study of WPV includes 1st-3rd year EM residents, nurses, paramedics, consultants, technicians, ambulance drivers and environmental services,” the report stated.