P-244 Workplace Violence During the Pandemic: A Survey Among Physicians and Dentists in the Italian Region Most Affected by the Pandemic

Introduction Violence against healthcare workers (HCWs) is an increasingly frequent phenomenon, especially during the recent pandemic. The aim was to investigate workplace violence against physicians and dentists during the pandemic. Material and Methods Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire addressed to physicians and dentists enrolled at various Boards in Lombardy, the Italian region most affected by the pandemic. The questionnaire was based on the “Workplace Violence In The Health Sector” questionnaire, developed by the WHO. Results, discussion and conclusion There were 1290 participants, including 367 (28.4%) hospital doctors, 245 (19.0%) freelance doctors, 240 (18.6%) general practitioners, and 226 (17.5%) dentists. Most participants were female (52.0%) and aged 55 years or older (51.0%). 493 (38.2%) HCWs reported one or more acts of violence during the practice of their medical profession in the previous two years. The most frequent acts of violence were harassment/insults (64.5%), threats (59.6%), and bullying/mobbing (14.4%). The aggressor was most frequently a patient (57.0%) or a relative (33.5%), male (71.2%). After the violence, 40.6% and 30.0% respectively discussed it with a colleague or a family member/friend, 26.6% reported the incident to their supervisor, and 24.5% did not report the event. According to the respondents’ opinions, episodes of violence increased during the pandemic (71.6%). Nearly half of the participants (47.7%) believed that the violence was related to factors linked to the pandemic. Furthermore, 69.9% of participants noted a deterioration in doctor-patient communication during the pandemic. The data collected can provide useful information for the prevention and management of workplace violence against HCWs.