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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Jun;30(30):74838-74852.
doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-27317-2. Epub 2023 May 20.

Workplace violence against healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Shuisheng Zhang  1 , Zhen Zhao  1 , Huan Zhang  2 , Yanhua Zhu  1 , Zhongyuan Xi  3 , Ke Xiang  4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Workplace violence against healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Shuisheng Zhang et al. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Workplace violence (WPV) is a prevalent phenomenon, especially in the healthcare setting. WPV against healthcare workers (HCWs) has increased during the COVID-19 epidemic. This meta-analysis determined the prevalence and risk factors of WPV. A database search was conducted across six databases in May 2022, which was updated in October 2022. WPV prevalence among HCWs was the main outcome. Data were stratified by WPV/HCW type, pandemic period (early, mid, late), and medical specialty. WPV risk factors were the secondary outcome. All analyses were conducted through STATA. Newcastle Ottawa Scale evaluated the quality. Sensitivity analysis identified effect estimate changes. A total of 38 studies (63,672 HCWs) were analyzed. The prevalence of WPV of any kind (43%), physical (9%), verbal (48%), and emotional (26%) was high. From mid-pandemic to late-pandemic, WPV (40-47%), physical violence (12-23%), and verbal violence (45-58%) increased. Nurses had more than double the rate of physical violence (13% vs. 5%) than physicians, while WPV and verbal violence were equal. Gender, profession, and COVID-19 timing did not affect WPV, physical, or verbal violence risk. COVID-19 HCWs were more likely to be physically assaulted (logOR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.10: 0.97). Most healthcare employees suffer verbal violence, followed by emotional, bullying, sexual harassment, and physical assault. Pandemic-related workplace violence increased. Nurses were twice as violent as doctors. COVID-19 healthcare employees had a higher risk of physical and workplace violence.

Keywords: Healthcare worker; Physical; Sexual; Verbal; Violence; Workplace violence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The PRISMA flow diagram of the database search and screening processes
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A forest plot showing the risk of workplace violence against healthcare workers based on gender
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A forest plot showing the risk of physical violence against healthcare workers based on gender
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
A forest plot showing the risk of verbal violence against healthcare workers based on gender
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
A forest plot showing the risk of workplace violence against healthcare workers based on the type of healthcare worker
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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