Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk for workplace violence
(WPV). It is a serious problem in both developed and developing countries and
has a great negative impact on the well-being of HCWs and on the quality of the
health system. Aim of Work: To determine the prevalence, pattern, associated
factors and impacts of WPV among female HCWs at Al-Zahraa University
Hospital and to detect the causes and seek out suggestions to prevent such
incident. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over
4 months from September to December 2019 at Al-Zahraa University Hospital
using a standardized questionnaire. The sample size was 312 physicians and
nurses. Results: The prevalence of violence was 66.3% among the studied
HCWs with statistically significant higher prevalence among nurses (72.5%)
than physicians (61.9%). Verbal violence was the most recurrent type (62.3%)
followed by the physical type (19.8%). Patient relatives and friends were the
most frequent perpetrators (63.3%). Emergency room was the most common
place for violence (42.5%). Violent incidents result in physical, psychological
impacts and job dissatisfaction. There was significant association of violence
with the marital status and the work shift (p value <0.05) with no significant
association of violence with age, occupation and duration of employments
(p value >0.05). Low socioeconomic status of patients, shortage of medical
equipment and medicine and inadequate security were the most frequently
suggested causes of violence. Conclusion and Recommendations: WPV
is highly prevalent among the studied HCWs particularly the verbal one and
resulted in physical, psychological and work related effects; that highlights
the need to develop management strategy to overcome WPV against HCWs.
Provision of medical equipment, medicine, security measures, legislation
and to restrict public access to examination rooms were the most frequently
suggested preventive measures.