Residents' Experiences of Abuse and Harassment in Emergency Departments.
The widespread epidemic of emerging abuse in Emergency Departments (ED) toward residents generates negative effects on the residents' health and welfare. The purpose of this study was to determine and highlight the high prevalence of abuse and harassment toward Emergency residents. In 2011, a multi-institutional, cross-sectional study was conducted at seven Emergency Residencies of central hospitals in Iran. Residents were asked about their age, marital status, postgraduate year (PGY) levels, and work experiences before residency. Prevalence of abuse in four categories was evaluated: verbal abuse; verbal and physical threat; physical assault and sexual harassment; and by whom. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 17.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Two hundred fifteen of the 296 residents (73%) completed the survey. The prevalence of any type of abuse experienced was 89%; 43% of residents experienced verbal and physical threats, 10% physical assault, and 31% sexual harassment. Verbal abuse and verbal and physical threats without the use of weapons were higher in men in comparison with women ( p< .04). Women were more likely than men to encounter sexual harassment (31% vs. 7%, p< .01). Among the sexual harassment categories, sexual jokes (51%) were the most prevalent between residents. Junior residents (PGY-1) were more likely to experience abuse than senior residents (PGY-2 and PGY-3; p< .01). Patients and their companions were the main agents of abusive behaviors. Abuse and harassment during residency in ED are highly prevalent. Educational programs and effective preventive measures against this mistreatment are urgently required.
1 Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Akram Zolfaghari
AZ
Sadrabad
2 Department of Pathology, Loghman-e-Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Farahnaz
F
Bidarizerehpoosh
1 Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Reza
R
Farahmand Rad
3 Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hamid
H
Kariman
4 Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Safety Promotion & Injury Prevention Research Center, Injury Prevention & Trauma Network, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hamidreza
H
Hatamabadi
3 Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hossein
H
Alimohammadi
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D000066550:Physical Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064450:Workplace Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Iran; abuse; emergency department; residency