Managing workplace violence in a public hospital: A South African case study

Abstract

Workplace violence (WPV) is rife in the South African health sector. Research was conducted on a program for the management of WPV (MWPV). The relevant MWPV program was based mainly on training various role players to build their capacity and empower them to limit the impact of WPV on themselves as employees and the hospital at large. The effectiveness of the MWPV through training was proven by the increase in the level of knowledge and change in attitude of respondents who completed the training after having been victims of WPV. However, the program was less effective with regard to participants’ belief in the development of their own skills to play a meaningful role in addressing WPV. The extension of the WPV program to other health care facilities was recommended with acknowledgement that the Employee Assistance Program should be responsible for the training as part of the management process of WPV.

Keywords:

• Employee Assistance Programs
• physical violence
• psychological violence
• workplace
• workplace violence

Notes

1 Susan Steinman (PhD) is an acknowledged expert in the field of WPV and has conducted extensive research and training in the field.