Violence in the pain clinic: the hidden pandemic

Workplace violence is any physical assault, threatening behavior or other verbal abuse directed toward persons at work or in the workplace. The incidence of workplace violence in healthcare settings in general and more specifically the pain clinic is thought to be underestimated due to hesitancy to report, lack of support from management and healthcare systems, and lack of institutional policies as it relates to violence from patients against healthcare workers. In the following article, we explore risk factors that place clinicians at risk of workplace violence, the cost and impact of workplace violence, how to build a violence prevention program and lastly how to recover from violence in the practice setting.

Automated summary

Workplace violence includes physical assault, threatening behavior, and verbal abuse targeting individuals in the workplace. Violence in healthcare settings, particularly pain clinics, is believed to be underreported due to hesitancy to report, lack of support from management and healthcare systems, and absence of institutional policies regarding patient violence against healthcare workers. This article explores the risk factors, costs, and impacts of workplace violence, provides guidance on establishing prevention programs, and addresses recovering from violence in the practice setting.