https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2025.01.11
1. State Institution «O.M. Marzeіev Institute for Public Health of the
NAMS of Ukraine», Kyiv, Ukraine
2. Bohomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
3. State Institution «Kundiiev Institute of Occupational Health of the
National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine», Kyiv, Ukraine
4. Bukovinian State Medical University, Chernivtsi, Ukraine
Full article (PDF), UKR
Introduction.
Aggression directed at healthcare workers in the workplace is a pressing issue worldwide. Studying the prevalence of violence against healthcare professionals and assessing the risks of aggression toward medical staff is crucial for developing effective prevention measures.
Objective.
To analyze the prevalence of occupational injuries in healthcare facilities caused by aggressive actions of staff, patients, their accompanying persons, and visitors.
Materials and Methods.
The study analyzed international and national official statistical data on occupational injuries in the healthcare sector, thematic publications, and previous research conducted by the authors.
Results.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 8% and 38% of healthcare workers experience physical violence at some point in their careers. Up to 90% of healthcare workers face verbal aggression. Aggression can manifest as physical, verbal, sexual, or psychological violence. Emergency medical service providers, psychiatric facility staff, and surgical department employees are the most frequently affected. Aggressors are often patients under stress, their relatives, as well as individuals under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or with psychiatric disorders. In Ukraine, statistical data on this issue are fragmented, failing to provide a comprehensive understanding of the
problem’s scale. Proper documentation of aggression cases against medical personnel is virtually absent. The urgent need for the Ukrainian healthcare system is to conduct adequate research to establish a reliable statistical database on aggression against medical staff.
Conclusions.
The creation of a unified database for recording cases of aggression against healthcare workers, the adoption of laws ensuring legal protection for medical professionals, and the development and implementation of educational programs for both medical staff and the public on conflict prevention in healthcare settings are key components of a systematic approach to addressing aggression against medical personnel in Ukraine.
Keywords: healthcare, medical personnel, aggression toward healthcare workers.
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