Workplace Violence among Mental Health Workers in Pantang Hospital

<a rel="nofollow"><span></span></a><span></span> <p><b><span>BACKGROUND</span></b><span>: Workplace violence is a major work-related problem for mental health<span> </span>workers<span> </span>and<span> </span>has a<span> </span>substantial<span> </span>effect<span> </span>on<span> </span>their<span> </span>physical<span> </span>and<span> </span>psychological<span> </span>well-being.<span> </span>At<span> </span>the<span> </span>end<span> </span>of<span> </span>the day, it affects the delivery of mental health care in the country. The is little data about<span> </span>workplace violence in the country. As a result, the study chose to study the prevalence, effects<span> </span>and the availability of support systems for mental health workers, victims of workplace violence<span> </span>in<span> </span>a<span> </span>psychiatric<span> </span>facility<span> </span>in Ghana.</span></p> <p></p> <p><b><span>METHODS</span></b><span>: The study was a cross-sectional survey of 201 mental healthcare workers at<span> </span>Pantang Hospital in Accra. Self-administered questionnaires which were adapted from<span> </span>Workplace Violence Scale was formulated by Hewett (2010) was used to obtain data on socio-<span> </span>demographics<span> </span>and<span> </span>aspects<span> </span>of<span> </span>workplace<span> </span>violence,<span> </span>the impact<span> </span>and<span> </span>availability<span> </span>of<span> </span>support<span> </span>systems.</span></p> <p><b><span>RESULTS: </span></b><span>Two hundred and thirteen completed questionnaires were analysed. 49.6% were<span> </span>victims of physical abuse in the past 12 months. Verbal abuse was the most predominant form<span> </span>abuse.<span> </span>Those<span> </span>who<span> </span>experienced<span> </span>workplace<span> </span>violence<span> </span>has<span> </span>psychological<span> </span>effects<span> </span>and<span> </span>also<span> </span>wanted<span> </span>to<span> </span>quit their job. 77.8% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that the systems that dealt with<span> </span>workplace<span> </span>violence<span> </span>needed strengthening.</span></p> <p><b><span>CONCLUSION: </span></b><span>The study concludes that a considerably high percentage of mental health-care<span> </span>workers had experienced workplace violence annually with significant effects. Therefore,<span> </span>measures must be implemented by facility management and policy makers to deal with<span> </span>workplace<span> </span>violence.</span></p> <p><b><span>KEYWORDS</span></b><span>:<span> </span>Mental<span> </span>Health<span> </span>Workers,<span> </span>Pantang,<span> </span>Psychiatric,<span> </span>Physical<span> </span>and<span> </span>Psychological<span> </span>Well-<span> </span>Being,<span> </span>Workplace<span> </span>Violence</span></p>