Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study: Evaluate of Violence against Health Care Worker in Workplace at Emergency Department in the Primary Health Care Centres during COVID-19 Pandemic in Makkah Al-Mokarramah, Saudi Arabia2022

Abstract

Background

Workplace violence (WPV) against Healthcare Workers (HCWs) has emerged as a global issue. Emergency Department (ED) HCWs as front liners are more vulnerable to it due to the nature of their work and exposure to unique medical and social situations. COVID-19pandemic has led to a surge in the number of cases of WPV against HCWs, especially against ED HCWs. In most cases, the perpetrators of these acts of violence are the patients and their attendants as families. The causes of this rise are multifactorial; these include the inaccurate spread of information and rumors through social media, certain religious perspectives, propaganda and increasing anger and frustration among the general public, ED overcrowding, staff shortages etc.  Frontline health care workers in workplace at emergency department in the primary health care center during COVID-19 pandemic were at distortion ate risk of workplace violence.

Aim of the study: To Evaluate of violence against health care worker in workplace at emergency department in the primary health centers during COVID-19 pandemic in Makkah Al-Mokarramah, Saudi Arabia2022.  

Method: Cross-sectional analytical study has been conducted at emergency departments (EDs) among health care worker in workplace at in the primary health care center during COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia, to attending physicians and nurses using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The total sample has been (300) of health care worker.

Results: age the highest age was(45.0%) were(30-35) years, the gender the most of participant female were (61.0%), the nationality Saudi were (82.0%), the marital status most of participant married(42.0%) and (23.0%)were single but widowed were (22.0%). Your qualification is majority of the participated had diploma were(23.0%).

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has probably exacerbated the perpetration of WV against HCWs globally and Saudi Arabia. While complying with the oath of providing care to patients regardless of the prevailing circumstances, HCWs are exposed to varying levels of WV perpetrated majorly by patients and their relatives. The emotional impact of WV on HCWs is grave, with many HCWs exposed to high levels of mental stress, fatigue, and increased predisposition to mental illness alongside thoughts of quitting their engagement as HCWs, timely preventive measures should be undertaken for emergency department Saudi Arabia.