AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE TOWARDS MEDICAL DOCTORS AND NURSES IN A PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FACILITY IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN: A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

OBJECTIVE: to examine the frequency, possible associated factors consequences of workplace violence towards doctors and nurses in a public healthcare facility in Lahore, thereby providing a basis for appropriate intervention.METHODOLOGY: We conducted a retrospective exploratory cross sectional study in a public sector hospital in Lahore, employing self-administered questionnaire to collect data on various aspects of workplace violence against doctors and nurses, in 12 months preceding the study.The sample covered 164 respondents (response rate 65.6%). Suggestions for restricting future violent incidents were also sought. The data was analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS)version 17.RESULTS: More than 2/3rd of the respondents (n=121/164, 73.8%)were the victims of violence in the preceding 12 months with verbal abuse (n=104/121, 86%) being the main aggression type encountered.Only 72/121 (59.5%) victims of violence reported the violence and majority of incidents (n=29/72, 40.3%) were reported to colleagues only.“No previous action” (73%) was the commonest reasons cited for not reporting the incidents. Workers exposed to violence aggression, experienced high level of psychological distress. Most common assailants were patients’ relatives (n=86/121, 71%) followed by patient themselves (n=37/121, 30.5%). Overcrowding and lack of security were cited as the main reasons for such incidents.CONCLUSION: Health care workers in public sector hospital setting in Lahore are frequently exposed to aggression and violence it is associated with many adverse consequences including high level of stress. Appropriate preventive measures including occupational support are required to make hospitals safer environments.