Research Article
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Understanding the Roots of Violence Against Health Workers: A Case Study from a Turkish Public Hospital

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 248 - 264, 25.07.2025
https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.1679353

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the causes of violence experienced by health workers in terms of different variables (gender, age, occupational type, level of education, response to violence, repetition of violence, unit, etc.).
Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 health workers exposed to violence and 30 perpetrators of violence were interviewed at Ordu University Training and Research Hospital. A qualitative screening method was used in the study and the root causes of violence in health were analysed using a semi-structured interview technique with the health workers exposed to violence and the perpetrators of violence. The necessary information was obtained by contacting the Patient Rights Unit of Ordu University Training and Research Hospital.
Results: Thirty of the participants were perpetrators of violence and thirty were exposed to violence; 15 were doctors, 10 were nurses and 5 were other health workers. Eleven of the perpetrators were female and 19 were male. Among health workers, 18 of the victims of violence were women and 12 were men. 66% of health workers had been subjected to violence. Forty per cent of perpetrators of violence were people who had been involved in previous incidents of violence. Non-compliance with hospital rules and procedures by the patient's carer was the main reason for violence, and it was found that all healthcare workers reported the violence to the judicial authorities. It was observed that the first reason for the patient-caregivers was that they found the treatment given by the health professionals to be inadequate or not to their liking.

Ethical Statement

The study was submitted to the social and human research ethics committee of Ordu University and the decision of the Ethics Committee dated 24.11.2022 and numbered 2022/220 was obtained (Appendix-1).

References

  • Arnetz, J. E., Hamblin, L., Ager, J., Aranyos, D., Upfal, M. J., & Luborsky, M. (2015). Underreporting of workplace violence: Comparison of self-report and actual documentation of hospital incidents. Workplace Health & Safety, 63(5), 200–210. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079915574684
  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.
  • Deniz, S., & Yüksel, O. (2020). A study to determine the causes of violence against healthcare professionals. Acıbadem University Health Sciences Journal, 3, 483–487.
  • Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2015). Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
  • Karasek, R. A. (1979). Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: Implications for job redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24(2), 285–308.
  • Lanctôt, N., & Guay, S. (2014). The aftermath of workplace violence among healthcare workers: A systematic literature review of the consequences. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(5), 492–501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.07.010
  • Ministry of Health. (2020). Beyaz Kod Uygulaması Faaliyet Raporu. Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Sağlık Bakanlığı.
  • Toker, E., & Kılınç, M. (2021). Violence against health care workers in Turkey: A growing threat. Journal of Public Health, 43(3), e377–e384.
  • Özişli, Ö. (2022). A study on the causes of violence in healthcare. International Journal of Health Management and Strategies Research, 8(1), 62–68.
  • WHO & ILO. (2002). Violence and harassment in the world of work: A guide to preventing and addressing. International Labour Organization & World Health Organization. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/safety-and-health-at-work
  • World Health Organization. (2002). World report on violence and health. Geneva: WHO.

Understanding the Roots of Violence Against Health Workers: A Case Study from a Turkish Public Hospital

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 248 - 264, 25.07.2025
https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.1679353

Abstract

Amaç: Sağlık çalışanlarının yaşadığı şiddet olayının kök nedenleri çeşitli değişkenler (cinsiyet, yaş, meslek türü, eğitim düzeyi, şiddete verilen tepki, şiddetin tekrarlanması, birim vb.) açısından incelenmiştir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışmada Ordu Üniversitesi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi’nde görevli şiddete maruz kalmış sağlık çalışanı arasından 30 kişiye ve şiddeti uygulayan 30 kişiye mülakat uygulanmıştır. Araştırmada nitel tarama yöntemi kullanılmış olup şiddete maruz kalan sağlık çalışanı ve şiddeti uygulayan bireyler ile yarı yapılandırılmış mülakat tekniği kullanılarak sağlıkta şiddetin kök nedenleri incelenmiştir. Ordu Üniversitesi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi’nin hasta hakları birimi ile görüşülerek gerekli bilgiler alınmıştır.
Bulgular: Şiddete maruz kalan sağlık çalışanı olup 15’i doktor, 10’u hemşire ve 5’i diğer sağlık çalışanıdır. Şiddeti uygulayanların 11’ kadın, 19’u erkektir. Sağlık çalışanlarından şiddete maruz kalanların 18’i kadın, 12’si erkektir. Sağlık çalışanlarının %66’sı daha önce de şiddete maruz kalmıştır. Şiddeti uygulayanların %40’ı daha önce şiddet olaylarına karışan insanlardır.
Sonuç: Sağlıkta şiddetin nedenleri sağlık çalışanlarına sorulduğunda %27 oran ile hasta-hasta yakınlarının hastane işleyiş ve kurallarına uymaması, %20 ile hasta-hasta yakınının sıra beklemeden muayene olmak istemesi, %10 ile randevusuz hastaneye gelme, %20’sinin uygulanan tedaviyi beğenmemesinden kaynaklanmakta, %13’ü hastanede çok bekletildiklerini düşündükleri için tartışma çıkarmakta ve %10’u ise kendilerine saygısızlık yapıldığını düşünmektedir.

Ethical Statement

Çalışma Ordu Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Beşeri Araştırmalar Etik Kuruluna sunulmuş ve Etik Kurulun 24.11.2022 tarih ve 2022/220 sayılı kararı alınmıştır (Ek-1).

Supporting Institution

Ordu University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health Management

References

  • Arnetz, J. E., Hamblin, L., Ager, J., Aranyos, D., Upfal, M. J., & Luborsky, M. (2015). Underreporting of workplace violence: Comparison of self-report and actual documentation of hospital incidents. Workplace Health & Safety, 63(5), 200–210. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079915574684
  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.
  • Deniz, S., & Yüksel, O. (2020). A study to determine the causes of violence against healthcare professionals. Acıbadem University Health Sciences Journal, 3, 483–487.
  • Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2015). Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
  • Karasek, R. A. (1979). Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: Implications for job redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24(2), 285–308.
  • Lanctôt, N., & Guay, S. (2014). The aftermath of workplace violence among healthcare workers: A systematic literature review of the consequences. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(5), 492–501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.07.010
  • Ministry of Health. (2020). Beyaz Kod Uygulaması Faaliyet Raporu. Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Sağlık Bakanlığı.
  • Toker, E., & Kılınç, M. (2021). Violence against health care workers in Turkey: A growing threat. Journal of Public Health, 43(3), e377–e384.
  • Özişli, Ö. (2022). A study on the causes of violence in healthcare. International Journal of Health Management and Strategies Research, 8(1), 62–68.
  • WHO & ILO. (2002). Violence and harassment in the world of work: A guide to preventing and addressing. International Labour Organization & World Health Organization. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/safety-and-health-at-work
  • World Health Organization. (2002). World report on violence and health. Geneva: WHO.
There are 11 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Health Care Administration, Health and Community Services
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Beril Alp 0000-0002-7578-7990

Taşkın Kılıç 0000-0003-2127-2622

Submission Date April 18, 2025
Acceptance Date June 26, 2025
Early Pub Date July 23, 2025
Publication Date July 25, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 10 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Alp, B., & Kılıç, T. (2025). Understanding the Roots of Violence Against Health Workers: A Case Study from a Turkish Public Hospital. International Journal of Health Management and Tourism, 10(2), 248-264. https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.1679353