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Global Health Econ Sustain HCWs and violence in emergency services

abuse and insults. In addition, violence manifested as the
destruction of departmental equipment, such as doors,
glass, and chairs. In more severe cases, physical violence
such as blows, slaps, or kicks resulting in physical injuries
accounted for 3% of the reported incidents.
Among 75 participants, only 45% opted for judicial
trial. Unfortunately, more than 50% of these cases were
terminated with withdrawal, as illustrated by Figure 5.
Nevertheless, the interpretation of this trend suggests that
patients and their companions arrive at hospitals with
the preconceived notion that resorting to violence and
causing disturbance by shouting and disputing (Stephens,
2019) are the most effective means to receive prompt
and satisfactory service. When HCWs did pursue legal
action, patients and their families often recognized their
Figure 2. The proportion of participants who were victims of violence
elucidates that the majority of health-care workers had been subjected to misconduct, prompting them to seek forgiveness from
some form of violence during their careers. the victim. However, this reconciliation often occurred
in a confrontational setting, where the HCWs found
themselves alone against potentially dangerous individuals
(often from criminal backgrounds), predominantly
residing in suburban areas. Consequently, many HCWs,
generally with peaceful nature, opted for withdrawal to
safeguard themselves and their families from potential
reprisals. Others refrained from pursuing legal action
altogether, either due to skepticism about the efficacy of the
legal system or to avoid entanglement in a complex legal
process. This observation underscores the notion that the
reported incidents merely represent the tip of an iceberg;
this challenge is a deeply entrenched and underreported
Figure 3. The factors and their respective proportions contribute to issue (Lisa et al., 2018).
violence against health-care workers in emergency departments. The
histogram illustrates that patients and their companions often arrive at In the same frame, 82% of the participants expressed their
hospitals with preconceived notions that resorting to violence is necessary belief that social media platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp,
to receive quality services and to be prioritized ahead of other patients. YouTube, Instagram) have significantly contributed to
the existing tension between HCWs and their patients
(Fathallah et al., 2012). They argue that these platforms tend
to sensationalize and amplify distressing situations solely to
garner views. Figure 6 demonstrates that HCWs, as active
users of social media, perceive it as exacerbating feelings
of hatred and hostility toward them. For instance, filming
a woman giving birth at the hospital gate became a viral
incident. A midwife directly addressed this by explaining
that: “In the first time, it was seen as negligence and lack of care,
Figure 4. The types of violence and their respective proportions but in reality, the parturient came late to the maternity service
experienced by health-care workers in emergency departments.
Participants exhibited no hesitation in disclosing the types of violence without being examined prior, and the labor had already
they encountered, reflecting a disheartening reality. This is particularly started on the way to the hospital.” However, individuals with
distressing given that the participants belong to the esteemed scientific malicious intent were quick to film and widely disseminate
elite. Many confessed to enduring harrowing conditions, likening their the scene, often with sensationalized titles. This incident,
work environment to hell. Some even expressed genuine fears for their
lives during particularly tumultuous nights in the emergency departments. along with others, solidifies the preconceived notions and
negative attitudes of the public toward the entire health-
of violence to which they have been exposed. In more than care sector and its workers. It serves as a snapshot of the
90% of cases, participants reported instances of verbal prevailing mindset among many individuals.

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2024) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2015