Workplace violence experienced by emergency department workers and its association with stress and depression assessment
- Author:
Joong Hyun KIM
1
;
Han Sung CHOI
;
Hyun Joo JUNG
;
Seong Gwan LIM
;
Chang Min LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. hsg3748@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Workplace violence;
Emergency department;
Stress;
Depression
- MeSH:
Anonyms and Pseudonyms;
Depression;
Emergencies;
Emergency Service, Hospital;
Humans;
Incidence;
Mental Health;
Nutrition Surveys;
Odds Ratio;
Physical Abuse;
Violence;
Workplace Violence
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2019;30(3):257-264
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: This study examined the incidence of workplace violence (WPV) in an emergency department (ED), and its influence on ED workers' mental health. METHODS: A cross-sectional, anonymous survey was conducted on ED workers employed in a local emergency medical center during August 2018. The survey respondents' data on the demographic characteristics, WPV episode, Korean-translated Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI-K), stress questionnaire for Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were obtained. The results of the stress (BEPSI-K, KNHANES) and depression (PHQ-9) score were compared with the WPV experience of ED workers. RESULTS: A total of 104 of 120 ED workers (86.7%) were exposed to WPV. ED workers that experienced physical violence within the past year had higher KNHANES, BEPSI-K, and PHQ-9 than the workers, who did not experience such violence (P≤0.001). In addition, this survey demonstrated that a physical violence episode within the past year was associated with above moderate depression (P≤0.001; odds ratio, 19.597). CONCLUSION: Recent physical violence can cause psychiatric disorders in ED workers, such as depression or stress disorder. Therefore, policies are needed to prevent WPV in ED and support ED workers who have experienced WPV.
