Prevalence and associated factors for workplace violence among general practitioners in China: a national cross-sectional study

Jing Feng; Zihui Lei; Shijiao Yan; Heng Jiang; Xin Shen; Yanling Zheng; Minyi Yu; Xin Meng; Hongkun Di; Wenqi Xia; Ying Zhou; Tingting Yang; Cheng Su; Fanjun Cheng; Zuxun Lu; Yong Gan

doi:10.1186/s12960-022-00736-x

Prevalence and associated factors for workplace violence among general practitioners in China: a national cross-sectional study

Hum Resour Health. 2022 May 16;20(1):42. doi: 10.1186/s12960-022-00736-x.

Authors

Jing Feng^#¹, Zihui Lei^#¹, Shijiao Yan^#^{2

3}, Heng Jiang^{4

5}, Xin Shen¹, Yanling Zheng⁶, Minyi Yu⁶, Xin Meng¹, Hongkun Di¹, Wenqi Xia¹, Ying Zhou¹, Tingting Yang⁷, Cheng Su¹, Fanjun Cheng⁸, Zuxun Lu⁹, Yong Gan¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital/The First Affiliated Hospital, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China.
⁴ Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁶ Shouyilu Street Community Health Service Center, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
⁷ Department of Nutrition, Henan Provincial People's Hospital and Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
⁸ Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
⁹ Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. zuxunlu@yahoo.com.
¹⁰ Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China. scswj2008@163.com.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: General practitioners (GPs) were at risk of violence in their everyday working lives. Workplace violence (WPV) among GPs is a global public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with WPV among GPs in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4376 GPs in eastern, central, and western China between March and May 2021 using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The multivariable stepwise logistic regression model was used to examine the factors associated with WPV among GPs in China.

Results: Among these respondents, 14.26% of them reported exposure to WPV in the past 12 months. GPs who were female, practised in a rural area, made home visits occasionally, worked in a fair or good practice environment or work environment, and had a fair or good relationship with patients were less likely to encounter any type of WPV. In addition, GPs who served patients over 20 per day and worked overtime occasionally or frequently were more likely to be exposed to WPV. The determinants of WPV varied in different types of WPV and sexes.

Conclusions: The prevalence of WPV among GPs is low in China. Our findings could inform the measures to reduce the WPV among GPs.

Keywords: China; General practitioners; Primary health care; Workplace violence.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
General Practitioners*
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Workplace
Workplace Violence*