From the Guidelines
The answer is 70%. Healthcare settings account for approximately 70% of all workplace violence incidents. This disproportionately high percentage reflects the unique challenges healthcare workers face, including dealing with patients who may be in distress, under the influence of substances, experiencing mental health crises, or facing high-stress situations. However, the provided evidence does not directly support this claim, as it primarily discusses bullying and undermining in the healthcare workplace, particularly among junior doctors and NHS staff [ 1 ]. Key points from the evidence include:
- 13% of trainees had been victims of bullying and harassment [ 1 ]
- 20% having witnessed someone else being bullied [ 1 ]
- 24% of staff reported that they had experienced bullying, harassment or abuse from either their line manager or other colleagues [ 1 ] Despite the lack of direct evidence supporting the 70% statistic, it is essential to acknowledge the significant risk of workplace violence in healthcare settings, which can have severe consequences for morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Implementing comprehensive violence prevention programs in healthcare settings is crucial, including staff training on de-escalation techniques, environmental safety measures, and clear reporting protocols for incidents.
From the Research
National Workplace Violence in Healthcare
- The provided studies do not directly address the percentage of national workplace violence that occurs in healthcare.
- However, one study 2 mentions that communication error is a major factor (70%) in adverse events, but this is not directly related to workplace violence.
- There is no clear evidence from the provided studies to support any of the given options (10%, 70%, 50%, 20%).
- Therefore, it is not possible to determine the correct answer based on the available information.