title: Workplace Violence in Health Care-It's Not "Part of the Job".
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While health care workers comprise just 13% of the US workforce, they experience 60% of all workplace assaults. This violence is the second leading cause of fatal occupational injury. Women comprise 45% of the US labor force but 80% of health care workers, the highest proportion of females in any industry.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to describe the prevalence, forms, and consequences of health care workplace violence (WPV). The role and components of prevention programs for avoiding or mitigating violence are discussed, including opportunities for participation by obstetrician-gynecologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search of PubMed from 1990 to February 1, 2016, identified relevant manuscripts. Additional studies were found by reviewing the manuscripts' references. Government Web sites were visited for relevant data, publications, and resources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Health care WPV continues to rise despite an overall decrease in US WPV. While workers are most likely to be assaulted by clients or patients, they are most frequently bullied and threatened by coworkers. All incidents are markedly underreported in the absence of physical injury or lost work time. Sequelae include physical and psychological trauma, adverse patient outcomes, and perceived lower quality of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The human, societal, and economic costs of health care WPV are enormous and unacceptable. Comprehensive prevention, planning, and intervention offer the best means of mitigating risks. As women's health physicians and health care workers, obstetrician-gynecologists should be encouraged to participate in such efforts.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; and Attending Physician.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wax
authors.affiliation: Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; and Director.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pinette
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME.
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cartin
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000592:standards*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace; D064450:Workplace Violence / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data