J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2019 Jun;30(3):257-264. 10.0000/jksem.2019.30.3.257.

Workplace violence experienced by emergency department workers and its association with stress and depression assessment

• Kim JH
• Choi HS
• Jung HJ
• Lim SG
• Lee CM

• KMID: 2450134
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jksem.2019.30.3.257

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.

Keyword

Workplace violence; Emergency department; Stress; Depression

MeSH Terms

Anonyms and Pseudonyms
Depression*
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Humans
Incidence
Mental Health
Nutrition Surveys
Odds Ratio
Physical Abuse
Violence
Workplace Violence*