There is a lack of consistency in defining workplace violence across countries and at national and local levels, although a broad rather than limited definition of violence is typically used. [11]
Violence was defined broadly to include “physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual harms; the potential for harms; intentional and unintentional injury; and abuse and neglect”. [12] NIOSH defines workplace violence as violent acts (including physical assaults and threats of assaults) directed toward persons at work or on duty. [13]
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines workplace violence as “violent acts, including physical assaults and threats of …show more content…
Health professionals are one of the most likely groups to experience violence and aggression in the workplace, second only to the protective service occupations: prison officers, police and security staff. [16]
Results of some researches signify that employees of health system especially nurses are more than other care and therapeutic careers, even more than prison guards, security forces and police subject to violence in workplace. [17] From 2002 to 2013, incidents of serious workplace violence (those requiring days off for the injured worker to recuperate) were four times more common in healthcare than in private industry on average. [18]
Campbell et al. (2011) examined prevalence and risk factors for WPV by utilizing data from a cross-sectional survey. A total of 2166 nurse personnel, including nurses and other nursing personnel and patient care technicians, from a metropolitan healthcare institution in the U.S. responded to the survey. Almost 30% of nursing personnel reported experiencing WPV in a 12 months period. The violence was reported as physical or psychological in approximately equal percentage. Nurses reported overall greater rates of WPV than non-nurses in every clinical area. Respondents who report physical violence cited the patients as the main perpetrator in over 90% of cases, as compared to 54% when psychological violence is reported. Co-workers, physicians and supervisors were also reported as perpetrators. The strongest risk factor for physical WPV was identified as working in psychiatric units or EDs.