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

Background: Violence against physicians, who play a crucial role in safeguarding public health, can have severe consequences for both the medical community and society as a whole. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of violence against physicians through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: This study utilized a systematic review and meta-analysis approach to examine the prevalence of violence against physicians. Articles published in Persian in Iranian scholarly journals, as well as English-language articles from both national and international sources, were reviewed without time restrictions. A data extraction form, designed based on the research objectives, was used to assess various factors, including study methodology and the frequency of different types of violence reported in the selected articles. A total of ۲۶۲ articles were identified through the search strategy, After a thorough review of titles, abstracts, and full texts, ۲۸ relevant studies on violence against physicians were included in the final analysis. Results: An analysis of the ۲۸ selected studies revealed that the overall prevalence of violence against physicians was ۶۴.۳۴ %. Verbal violence was the most type, reported in ۵۹.۶۷ % of cases, while sexual violence was the least frequent, accounting for ۱۷.۷۴% of all incidents. Physical violence was reported in ۲۸.۳۱% of cases, and psychological violence was found in ۵۹.۶۷%. Regarding the location of violent incidents, hospitals were the most commonly reported setting, with a prevalence rate ۶۷.۲۰%. Conclusion: The findings indicated an increasing trend in workplace violence against physicians. To address this issue, several measures are recommended, including enacting and enforcing specific legislation to protect physicians and healthcare workers, imposing strict penalties on perpetrators, and providing healthcare professionals with training in communication and crisis management to effectively handle conflicts and prevent violent incidents. Keywords: Violence, Physicians, Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

کلیدواژه ها:

Violence ، Physicians ، Systematic Review ، Meta-Analysis