Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

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Vandalism against Doctors: Clinician's Perspective


Affiliations
1 MBBS Student, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India
2 Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India
3 Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India
4 Intern, Dept. of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India
5 Professor & Head, Dept. of OBGY, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India
     

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Background: Medicine is considered one of the most difficult streams after completing school. Doctors are considered as the most knowledgeable people. However, since the past few years, there have been numerous cases of brutality against doctors-from verbal abuses to even murders. In this study, we plan to look at such events from the clinician's point of view-their awareness about the situation and the laws about it and what they think is required to be done for its prevention.

Aim: To assess the views of medical professionals regarding the rising incidence of medical vandalism in the country.

Methodology: After due clearance from Institution's Ethical Committee and obtaining a written consent, a validated questionnaire was distributed to 200 doctors of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural tertiary care Hospital (AVBRH) as well as the private practitioners and doctors working in corporate hospitals, Nursing homes, and members of IMA (Wardha Branch) in Wardha district of Central India. Their responses were recorded and tabulated. The results were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and represented in frequency percentages through pie charts.

Results: Out of the 200 doctors that were interviewed, 100% believed that vandalism exists, out of which 58.8% believed it to exist both in government setup as well as well as private sectors, 23% believed overcrowding to be the major triggering factor for vandalism. Some 35.2% did not have any idea whether their institute had any policy against vandalism. Around 40% believed that installation of more CCTV cameras and tightening the security system in workplace would help against vandalism and prevent it.

Conclusion: Thus, it can be concluded that medical vandalism exists and its most common triggering factor is overcrowding in the hospitals. It can be prevented by good communication between doctors and the patients, improving the infrastructure of work place, improving the security systems and by organizing mass rallies in the community.


Keywords

Medical, Vandalism, Abuse, Doctors, Community.
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  • Vandalism against Doctors: Clinician's Perspective

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Authors

Paridhi Dolas
MBBS Student, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India
Sourya Acharya
Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India
Samarth Shukla
Professor, Dept. of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India
Kushagra Mathur
Intern, Dept. of Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India
Neema Acharya
Professor & Head, Dept. of OBGY, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha-442001, Maharashtra, India

Abstract


Background: Medicine is considered one of the most difficult streams after completing school. Doctors are considered as the most knowledgeable people. However, since the past few years, there have been numerous cases of brutality against doctors-from verbal abuses to even murders. In this study, we plan to look at such events from the clinician's point of view-their awareness about the situation and the laws about it and what they think is required to be done for its prevention.

Aim: To assess the views of medical professionals regarding the rising incidence of medical vandalism in the country.

Methodology: After due clearance from Institution's Ethical Committee and obtaining a written consent, a validated questionnaire was distributed to 200 doctors of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural tertiary care Hospital (AVBRH) as well as the private practitioners and doctors working in corporate hospitals, Nursing homes, and members of IMA (Wardha Branch) in Wardha district of Central India. Their responses were recorded and tabulated. The results were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and represented in frequency percentages through pie charts.

Results: Out of the 200 doctors that were interviewed, 100% believed that vandalism exists, out of which 58.8% believed it to exist both in government setup as well as well as private sectors, 23% believed overcrowding to be the major triggering factor for vandalism. Some 35.2% did not have any idea whether their institute had any policy against vandalism. Around 40% believed that installation of more CCTV cameras and tightening the security system in workplace would help against vandalism and prevent it.

Conclusion: Thus, it can be concluded that medical vandalism exists and its most common triggering factor is overcrowding in the hospitals. It can be prevented by good communication between doctors and the patients, improving the infrastructure of work place, improving the security systems and by organizing mass rallies in the community.


Keywords


Medical, Vandalism, Abuse, Doctors, Community.