Abstract

Aim: Healthcare professionals have faced high rates of violent injury and fatality in the workplace. This study's objective was to evaluate the existing knowledge on the extent of workplace violence from online reports, to contribute on these incidents to serve as a basis for future research which could provide a synergistic relationship via the media for preventive policies. Methods: This study utilizes a descriptive and qualitative analysis of online media reports on violence against healthcare professionals that were collected from two websites which are linked to mainstream media from January 1, 2012 to October 1, 2019. Results: This online report analysis indicated a total of 1028 incidents of serious violence occurred against healthcare professionals. The data of the study is in the forensic news category and it is seen that physicians, especially male physicians and emergency service are at the forefront of physical attacks. It is seen that patient’s relatives play an important role as aggressor and the m o s t c o m m o n c a u s e s o f v i o l e n c e w e r e dissatisfaction with the treatment or diagnosis, services, and expensive fees. Most of the headlines stated that there is interpersonal violence; but did not mention health policy, structural and organizational issues. Conclusion: This study indicated that experiencing different kinds of violence at healthcare facilities have become common and normal news resulting in life-threatening injuries of the victims. Because the patients/patients relatives have thought that healthcare workers are responsible for all problems arising from the transforming health program. For this reason, any kind of inconvenience is returning to health workers as violence. In conclusion, the media, the government, and the healthcare professionals should work together to produce solutions.