Changes in violence against healthcare Professionals with the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION: To investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected violence against healthcare professionals (HCPs). Background: Violence poses a severe threat to healthcare providers. MATER IAL AND METHODS : All violence cases against HCPs reported in Adiyaman Training and Research Hospital were retrospectively examined in two different periods: between March 22, 2020-March 22, 2021 (pandemic period) and the previous year's same times (pre-pandemic period). RESULTS: Eighty-eight violence cases against HCPs occurred during the study period were included in the study. Of these cases, 64.8% occurred during the pre-pandemic period and 35.2% during the pandemic period. While the incidence of violence against HCP in the emergency department was 40.4% in the pre-pandemic period, it decreased to 29% in the pandemic period. While the most reason for resorting to violence was not wanting to wait in line in the pre-pandemic period, it was reported as hospital rule violations during the pandemic period. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that characteristics of violence against HCPs have changed in the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright © 2022 Via Medica.