A new study published in PLOS Global Public Health on July 2 reveals that women in the health care workforce are more likely to experience verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and bullying, while men are more likely to face physical violence. This study, led by Sioban Nelson, R.N., Ph.D., from the University of Toronto, underscores the prevalent gender-based workplace violence (GB-WPV) in health care settings.

Nelson and her colleagues conducted a comprehensive scoping review, analyzing data from 226 studies to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with GB-WPV in health care environments. Their findings indicate a stark difference in the types of violence experienced by male and female health care workers.

The review showed that women more frequently encountered nonphysical violence, such as verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and bullying, compared to their male counterparts. Conversely, men were found to experience higher rates of physical violence. The study highlighted several characteristics sensitive to gender that contributed to these experiences.

These included younger age, less professional experience, shifting duties, specific clinical settings, lower professional status, organizational hierarchy, and minority status, all reflecting the structural disadvantages faced by women in the workplace.

"The repercussions of GB-WPV resonate throughout the health care system, resulting in substantial provider attrition, compromised patient care, and an overburdened health care infrastructure struggling to meet the needs of society," the authors noted. They also acknowledged the complexity of workplace violence, emphasizing that examining gender alone does not fully capture the influence of other social categories on these experiences.

This study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and policies to address gender-based violence in health care settings, aiming to create a safer and more equitable work environment for all health care professionals.