DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i10.006

Pages: 3694-3699

The rising trend of work place violence (WPV) against doctors is endangering the doctor-patient relationship and quality of care. Such violence negatively impacts the psychological as well as physical well-being of the doctors and overall productivity of health system. Hence an institution based cross sectional study was conducted to know the magnitude of such problem and to find the out the risk factors associated with it, among the doctors working in tertiary care hospital attached to GMERS Medical College, Junagadh. All 73 faculty doctors working in the hospital were included in the study after obtaining consent. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for the interview assessing the type, frequency and causes of WPV. The types of violence were categorized into verbal abuse, threats to assault and physical assault. Overall, the prevalence of WPV was 67%. Surgery and allied branches had significantly higher proportion of doctors who experienced work place violence as compared to other branches. The prevalence of WPV was significantly higher among male doctors. The prevalence as well as the frequency of verbal abuse was higher than other types of violence. The commonest cause for WPV was long waiting period, and the most suggested measure to prevent such violence was strengthening of security system. It is high time that doctors are protected from incidences of work place violence for their own safety and to ensure sustained quality of healthcare services.