Awareness among MBBS Students About Rise of Violence Against Doctors

Abstract

World Health Organisation defined workplace violence as incidents where employees are abused, threatened,
assaulted or subjected to other offensive behaviour in circumstances related to their work. According to an
ongoing study by the Indian Medical Association, over 75% of doctors have faced violence at work, majority
of the cases were reported from emergency wards and Intensive Care Units. In the last decade, Governments
of 19 states in India have passed laws for the protection of physicians. However, the law is not being
effectively implemented either due to lack of awareness or resistance from administration. A questionnaire
based study was conducted on MBBS students to assess their level of awareness about violence on doctors
and protection laws. The knowledge among the students about these laws was very low, which could be
improved if the topic “Violence on Doctors” is included in the new competency based curriculum, separately
in Forensic Medicine subject.