The Prevalence of Violence Against Healthcare Workers in the Public Sector – A Trinbagonian Survey

Abstract

Introduction:

Violence against healthcare workers (HCWs) and lack of public trust threatens the foundation of the physician-patient relationship in Trinidad. The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of violence against Trinbagonian HCWs in the public sector. Secondary objectives included determining risk factors for violence and mistrust between the public and providers.

Method:

A cross-sectional analysis of 434 Trinbagonian HCWs in the public sector was conducted using a modified World Health Organization (WHO) data collection tool, distributed via social media and administrative emails, and snowballed for two months. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted regarding trust in the healthcare system with patients selected from various communities.

Results:

Of the 434 respondents, 45.2% experienced violence and 75.8% witnessed violence against HCWs in the past 2 years. Verbal abuse (41.5%) was most common. Perpetrators were patients (42.2%) and patients’ relatives (35.5%). Chi-square analysis highlighted that HCWs with the highest probability of being abused were aged 25-39 (63.8%), had 2-5 years of work experience (24.9%), specialized in emergency & internal medicine (48.6%), and cared for psychiatric & physically disabled patients (p-value <0.001). HCWs believed the threat of violence negatively impacted their performance (64.5%), and further action was necessary for mitigation (86.4%). Patients interviewed doubted physicians' altruism, competence (80%) and honesty (53.3%), expressed mistrust in their physician (46.7%), and cited poor infrastructure/management (66.7%) and dissatisfaction with care (60.0%) as factors that contributed to violence.

Conclusion:

Analysis revealed that violence against Trinbagonian HCWs in the public sector deteriorated patient experience and adversely affected psychological well-being, efficiency, and job satisfaction. Results suggested mistrust of HCWs by the population. Interventions should be instituted to support at-risk HCWs and educate the public to avoid recurrence.