Workplace violence against frontline clinicians in emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic

Rui Liu; Yue Li; Ying An; Ling Zhang; Feng Rong An; Jia Luo; Aiping Wang; Yan Jie Zhao; Anzhe Yuan; Teris Cheung; Gabor S. Ungvari; Ming Zhao Qin; Yu Tao Xiang

doi:10.7717/peerj.12459

Workplace violence against frontline clinicians in emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic

Rui Liu, Yue Li, Ying An, Ling Zhang, Feng Rong An, Jia Luo, Aiping Wang, Yan Jie Zhao, Anzhe Yuan, Teris Cheung, Gabor S. Ungvari, Ming Zhao Qin, Yu Tao Xiang

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background. Frontline clinicians working in emergency departments (ED) were at disportionate risk of workplace violence (WPV). We investigated the prevalence of WPV and its relationship with quality of life (QOL) in this group of health professionals in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A cross-sectional, online study was conducted. The nine-item Workplace Violence Scale measured WPV. Results. A total of 1,103 ED clinicians participated in this study. The overall prevalence of WPV against ED clinicians was 29.2% (95% CI [26.5%-31.9%]). Having family/friends/colleagues infected with COVID-19 (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.82, P = 0.01), current smoking (OR = 2.98, P < 0.01) and severity of anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.08, P < 0.01) were independently and positively associated with WPV, while working in emergency intensive care units (OR = 0.45, P < 0.01) was negatively associated with WPV. After controlling for covariates, clinicians experiencing WPV had a lower global QOL compared to those without (F_{(1, 1103)} = 10.9,P < 0.01). Conclusions. Prevalence of workplace violence against ED clinicians was common in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the negative impact of WPV on QOL and quality of care, timely preventive measures should be undertaken for ED clinicians.

Original language	English
Article number	e12459
Journal	PeerJ
Volume	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12459
Publication status	Published - Nov 2021

Keywords

China
COVID-19
Emergency department
Workplace violence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience
General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.7717/peerj.12459

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@article{685bb0e6cfef4319aee6b8bc64de5604,

title = "Workplace violence against frontline clinicians in emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic",

abstract = "Background. Frontline clinicians working in emergency departments (ED) were at disportionate risk of workplace violence (WPV). We investigated the prevalence of WPV and its relationship with quality of life (QOL) in this group of health professionals in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A cross-sectional, online study was conducted. The nine-item Workplace Violence Scale measured WPV. Results. A total of 1,103 ED clinicians participated in this study. The overall prevalence of WPV against ED clinicians was 29.2% (95% CI [26.5%-31.9%]). Having family/friends/colleagues infected with COVID-19 (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.82, P = 0.01), current smoking (OR = 2.98, P < 0.01) and severity of anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.08, P < 0.01) were independently and positively associated with WPV, while working in emergency intensive care units (OR = 0.45, P < 0.01) was negatively associated with WPV. After controlling for covariates, clinicians experiencing WPV had a lower global QOL compared to those without (F(1, 1103) = 10.9,P < 0.01). Conclusions. Prevalence of workplace violence against ED clinicians was common in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the negative impact of WPV on QOL and quality of care, timely preventive measures should be undertaken for ED clinicians.",

keywords = "China, COVID-19, Emergency department, Workplace violence",

author = "Rui Liu and Yue Li and Ying An and Ling Zhang and An, {Feng Rong} and Jia Luo and Aiping Wang and Zhao, {Yan Jie} and Anzhe Yuan and Teris Cheung and Ungvari, {Gabor S.} and Qin, {Ming Zhao} and Xiang, {Yu Tao}",

note = "Funding Information: The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U19B2032), the National Science and Technology Major Project for investigational new drug (2018ZX09201-014), the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (Z181100001518005), and the University of Macau (MYRG2019-00066-FHS). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Funding Information: The following grant information was disclosed by the authors: National Natural Science Foundation of China: U19B2032. National Science and Technology Major Project for investigational new drug: 2018ZX09201-014. Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission: Z181100001518005. University of Macau: MYRG2019-00066-FHS. Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021 Liu et al.",

year = "2021",

month = nov,

doi = "10.7717/peerj.12459",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

journal = "PeerJ",

issn = "2167-8359",

publisher = "PeerJ Inc.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Workplace violence against frontline clinicians in emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic

AU - Liu, Rui

AU - Li, Yue

AU - An, Ying

AU - Zhang, Ling

AU - An, Feng Rong

AU - Luo, Jia

AU - Wang, Aiping

AU - Zhao, Yan Jie

AU - Yuan, Anzhe

AU - Cheung, Teris

AU - Ungvari, Gabor S.

AU - Qin, Ming Zhao

AU - Xiang, Yu Tao

N1 - Funding Information: The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U19B2032), the National Science and Technology Major Project for investigational new drug (2018ZX09201-014), the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (Z181100001518005), and the University of Macau (MYRG2019-00066-FHS). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Funding Information: The following grant information was disclosed by the authors: National Natural Science Foundation of China: U19B2032. National Science and Technology Major Project for investigational new drug: 2018ZX09201-014. Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission: Z181100001518005. University of Macau: MYRG2019-00066-FHS. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Liu et al.

PY - 2021/11

Y1 - 2021/11

N2 - Background. Frontline clinicians working in emergency departments (ED) were at disportionate risk of workplace violence (WPV). We investigated the prevalence of WPV and its relationship with quality of life (QOL) in this group of health professionals in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A cross-sectional, online study was conducted. The nine-item Workplace Violence Scale measured WPV. Results. A total of 1,103 ED clinicians participated in this study. The overall prevalence of WPV against ED clinicians was 29.2% (95% CI [26.5%-31.9%]). Having family/friends/colleagues infected with COVID-19 (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.82, P = 0.01), current smoking (OR = 2.98, P < 0.01) and severity of anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.08, P < 0.01) were independently and positively associated with WPV, while working in emergency intensive care units (OR = 0.45, P < 0.01) was negatively associated with WPV. After controlling for covariates, clinicians experiencing WPV had a lower global QOL compared to those without (F(1, 1103) = 10.9,P < 0.01). Conclusions. Prevalence of workplace violence against ED clinicians was common in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the negative impact of WPV on QOL and quality of care, timely preventive measures should be undertaken for ED clinicians.

AB - Background. Frontline clinicians working in emergency departments (ED) were at disportionate risk of workplace violence (WPV). We investigated the prevalence of WPV and its relationship with quality of life (QOL) in this group of health professionals in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A cross-sectional, online study was conducted. The nine-item Workplace Violence Scale measured WPV. Results. A total of 1,103 ED clinicians participated in this study. The overall prevalence of WPV against ED clinicians was 29.2% (95% CI [26.5%-31.9%]). Having family/friends/colleagues infected with COVID-19 (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.82, P = 0.01), current smoking (OR = 2.98, P < 0.01) and severity of anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.08, P < 0.01) were independently and positively associated with WPV, while working in emergency intensive care units (OR = 0.45, P < 0.01) was negatively associated with WPV. After controlling for covariates, clinicians experiencing WPV had a lower global QOL compared to those without (F(1, 1103) = 10.9,P < 0.01). Conclusions. Prevalence of workplace violence against ED clinicians was common in China during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the negative impact of WPV on QOL and quality of care, timely preventive measures should be undertaken for ED clinicians.

KW - China

KW - COVID-19

KW - Emergency department

KW - Workplace violence

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U2 - 10.7717/peerj.12459

DO - 10.7717/peerj.12459

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85120180286

SN - 2167-8359

VL - 9

JO - PeerJ

JF - PeerJ

M1 - e12459

ER -

Workplace violence against frontline clinicians in emergency departments during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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