Exploring the experience of workplace violence among healthcare practitioners in Klang Valley [EMBARGOED]

Abstract

Workplace violence among healthcare practitioners is higher than in other professions. It is important for healthcare practitioners to be trained and educated to minimize the possibility of becoming a victim of workplace attacks. However, limited fundamental knowledge could support the establishment of such training and education programs within Malaysian healthcare settings. Moreover, most of the studies conducted on workplace violence in Malaysia used a quantitative approach, which may limit the understanding of the actual experience of workplace violence among healthcare practitioners. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experience of workplace violence among healthcare practitioners. Using a generic qualitative design, this study gathered data using face-to-face semi-structured interviews among 27 healthcare practitioners (18 nurses, seven medical assistants, and two medical doctors) with experience of workplace violence from six hospitals in the Klang Valley. Interview data were transcribed and analyzed using framework analysis. Three themes were developed from the analysis; namely tolerating violence culture, understanding multifaceted triggers and causes and achieving positive organizational change. Most of the incidents recounted by the participants involved verbal abuse, with limited evidence of physical violence. The analysis reflected those factors contributing to workplace violence include congested conditions, long waiting times and ineffective communication. After workplace violence, participants seek support from superiors like specialists and supervisors, sharing incidents to reduce stress. Emotional distress was significant, highlighting the need for organizational psychological support like counselling and debriefing. The findings suggest that the important aspects to be included in the training and education program are strategies dealing with hospital congestion, reinforcement of existing standard guidelines, support in providing continuing education courses on clinical knowledge and skills, and effective communication with the clients.