PERCEPTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST DOCTORS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Antaraa Bhattacharya, Devesh Bafna and Dr. Srabani Bhattacharya*

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 225 participants of either gender. Among the participants Male=49.33% and Female=50.67%. Their age was between 18 yrs-33yrs. (18yrs=13.33%, 19yrs=30.67%, 20yrs=24.89%, 21yrs=16.89%, 22yrs=5.78%, 23yrs=2.67%, 24yrs=3.55%, 25yrs=0.89%, 28yrs=0.89%, 33yrs=0.44%) 86.67% from Urban area and 13.33% from rural area. Among the participants 39.55% had seen workplace violence, 4% experienced it and 1.78% seen and experienced. Maximum was verbal abuse (41.3%). ‘Violence has increased’ was agreed by 84% of participants. ‘Work place violence is more in India than other countries’ was agreed by 96.9% participants. About 91.6% participants agreed that there has been ‘lack of government support’. The increasing violence was attributed to ‘weakness of law’ by 57.3% for doctor-related issues and 44.9% participants reported ‘poor knowledge of health-related issues’ for patient-related issues.

Keywords: Workplace Violence, Violence against doctors, Doctor related issues, Patient related issues.