Violence in the health care workplace.

Violence in the workplace refers to any threat, physical and/or psychological in nature, that is directed toward a person while at work. A report by the International Labour Organization concluded that workplace violence has increased dramatically throughout the world in recent decades. Among all occupational groups, health care personnel is a major target or victim of workplace violence. The risk of health care personnel experiencing workplace violence is 16 times greater than the risk for other service workers. Nurses are as much as 3 times more likely to be victims of violence compared with other health care personnel, with female nurses considered the most vulnerable. The Hospital Authority of Hong Kong reported that nurses represent 54% of all documented cases of workplace violence. Yet despite the particular risks that nurses face, attention has only recently been drawn to the problem.