Workplace violence in healthcare: Towards a psychosocial perspective

Workplace violence (WPV) in health care settings is an emerging issue worldwide. Type I and Type II WPV are not uncommon and it has significant physical and psychosocial outcomes among health care workers. Little is known about the psychosocial factors of the perpetrators involved in these violent acts. There are various psychosocial theories and risk factors of aggression which can explain WPV. WPV can be viewed as a social problem. Creating an integrated psychosocial model of WPV in health care settings will help health care professionals to have an empathetic view of the persons involved in these aggressive acts. Grief and anticipated loss may be one of the important factors to be addressed in emergency services. This hypothetical model will also help policymakers to create a noble approach to deal with such situations effectively. Studies in the future can focus on validating this model which will have translational implications.