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Patient-to-worker violence in Public hospitals in Tunisia
- A. Omrane, C. Harrathi, I. Mlouki, M. Ouerchefani, T. Khalfallah, S. EL Mhamedi, L. Bouzgarrou
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S553
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Introduction
Compared with workers in other sectors, hospital workers are victims of high rates of non-fatal workplace assault injuries worldwide. Unfortunately, a large amount of these injuries is a result from violent acts committed by patients. International research has focused on perceived reasons for patient violence among physicians and patients.
ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence and factors of patient-to worker violence in two hospitals in the central-eastern region of Tunisia.
MethodsA cross-sectional bi-centric study was conducted in two teaching hospitals. This study included all healthcare workers of these hospitals. Data collection was performed by a structured self-administered questionnaire related to demographic and professional characteristics of participants. Participants were asked about violence where the perpetrators were patients using a questionnaire developed and validated by a Jordanian team to evaluate Violence. Beck’s Depression Inventory II and Rosenberg self-esteem scale were chosen to explore self-esteem issues and mood disorders. The Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence was used to assess cigarette dependence. The Internet addiction test was used to evaluate internet addiction.
ResultsThe response rate was of 19%. The mean age of the sample was 34.5 ±9.6 years. In work sit, 46.9% (n=239) reported being exposed to at least one incident of patient-to-worker violence. Exposure to verbal violence was reported by 92.1% of workers. Among the sample, 18.9% of participants reported feelings of low self-esteem. Asked about depressive symptoms, appetite problems were reported in 77.1% of cases. A significant association was found between patient-to-worker violence, nationality (p= 0.01) and occupation (p= 0.01) of respondents. Results showed also that patient-to-worker violence was significantly associated with smoking (p=0.043), the degree of cigarette addiction (≤10-3) and alcohol consumption (p=0.008). Mood disorders were associated to exposure to patient-to-worker violence. An increased risk to be exposure to incidents of physical violence was found among workers with depressive symptoms. Also, reporting physical violence was associated with self-esteem issues and feelings of worthlessness.
ConclusionsViolence has become an alarming hazard in hospitals. This study showed the association between different factors and the exposure to patient-to-worker violence incidents in two hospitals. Being exposed to patient-to-worker violence has negative impacts. Some of type II violence’s consequences are to impact quality of life of workers, depression, psychological squeals, effectiveness of work and the decrease of quality of care. In order to reduce patient-to-worker violence, urgent prevention programs should be incorporated in hospitals.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Addictive behaviors among healthcare workers: A bicentric Tunisian Study
- A. Omrane, H. Dabbebi, I. Mlouki, T. Khalfallah, S. EL Mhamdi
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S138-S139
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- Article
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- You have access Access
- Open access
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Introduction
Addiction is a disease that comes with a range of consequences. Its physical, mental, personal, social and financial repercussions could not be neglected. Yet, this issue is still stigmatized. It is a public health problem that may affect people from different backgrounds including healthcare professionals.
ObjectivesTo investigate the risk factors for a substance addiction: cigarette addiction and behavioral addiction: internet addiction among health care professionals.
MethodsA cross-sectional bi-centric study was conducted among healthcare workers from two public hospitals in the center-east of Tunisia. A questionnaire was distributed to those who gave their oral consent to take part in the study. It included items related to participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, self-esteem and mood assessment. It combined questions from the Rosemberg self-esteem scale (RSES) and the Beck Depression Inventory alongside with validated tests: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE-IQ), the Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT).
ResultsAmong respondents, 16.1% were smokers. Risk factors for smoking were: being a male (OR=9.62), being in contact with patients (OR=4.75), a job tenure exceeding ten years (OR=3.11), having regular alcohol consumption (OR=7.27), unprotected sex (OR=9.24), depression (OR=3.87) or having suffered from sexual abuse during childhood (3.07). Nevertheless, practicing sport regularly (OR=0.32) and anxiety (OR=0.23) were identified protective factors. A high level of cigarette addiction was observed with 34.3% of cigarette smokers. Predictors of high cigarette dependence were: job tenure over ten years (OR=20.69), regular alcohol consumption (OR=6.11) and unprotected sex (OR=7.14). Among healthcare workers, 70.8% reported a normal internet use. Internet addiction was specially seen with those who were not engaged (OR=2,92) and those who worried about being unsuccessful (OR=1.91). Good self-esteem and being older were protective factors with OR=0.49 and OR=0.38 successively. Depression did not contribute to the development of internet addiction, on the opposite it protected against it (OR=0.36).
ConclusionsCigarette and internet addiction are threatening health problems that need more effort to screen and address. This public health issue has never stopped growing with the emergence of new types of illicit drugs and behaviours. Finally, this study draws attention to the importance of assessing the prevalence of different categories of addiction in Tunisia and highlights the necessity of updating policies used to address these addictions in a timely and appropriate way.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared