Prevalence of Violence Against Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Occupational violence is recognized as one of the most significant hazards in healthcare environments. This study aimed to determine the overall prevalence of violence against healthcare professionals through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted without time restrictions, including both Persian-language articles from Iranian journals and English-language publications from national and international sources. A standardized data extraction form was utilized to assess methodological quality and to extract data on different types of violence. From ۲۶۲ identified studies, ۴۸ met the inclusion criteria and focused on violence against nurses. Results: The pooled prevalence of violence against healthcare workers was found to be ۵۹.۳۲%. Verbal violence was the most common type at ۶۷.۶۵%, followed by psychological (۴۹.۳۵%), physical (۲۷.۹۷%), and racial violence (۱۲%). Sexual violence had the lowest prevalence at ۸.۱۱%. Healthcare centers were identified as the most common setting for violent incidents (۶۳%). Conclusion: The findings demonstrate a high prevalence of violence against healthcare workers, underscoring the urgent need for preventive policies, staff support mechanisms, and educational programs to ensure the safety and well-being of medical personnel.

کلیدواژه ها:

Workplace Violence ، Healthcare Workers ، Nurses ، Systematic Review ، Meta-Analysis