Saudi Gazette report

DAMMAM — More than 57.5 percent of the health practitioners in the Kingdom were subject to various kinds of abuse while on duty including slapping, biting and hitting by sharp weapons, according to a report carried on Sunday by Makkah daily.

The report was conducted by an investigative committee chaired by Dr. Safar Al-Sulaim, a professor of medicine at King Khaled University in Abha. The team consisted of nine members who were medicine teachers, consultants and resident doctors.

The findings were recently published by the journal of the Family and Society Medicine.

"There was no difference between the male and female medical practitioners. The abuse covered them all without any disparity," said the team leader.

He said most of the attack incidents took place during the working hours especially at the emergency wards, admission sections and night duties and the majority of the victims were expatriates.

The study covered about 738 health practitioners in two government hospitals and 10 health centers. About 69.9 percent of the surveyed practitioners were Saudis and 30.1 percent expatriates. It included doctors, nurses, technicians and pharmacists.

According to the study, about 60 percent of the verbal and physical abuse was done by the patients themselves or their accompanying relatives.

About 60 percent of the abused practitioners said the attacks spoiled their day and the days after.

The practitioners said in order to please the patients or their relatives so as to avoid any hateful consequences, they would usually ask for more medical examinations and lab tests which will cost extra money on the hospital.

Al-Sulaim said about 57 percent of the causes of the attacks were referred to the lack of health awareness on the part of the patients and their companions who were interfering in the work of the doctors and nurses.

He called for the training of the health practitioners on how to deal with the abuse and how to protect themselves and also for increasing the health awareness among the public.

According to the study, about 17 percent of the abuse cases was pushing by the hands, 13 percent biting, 17 percent threats, five percent tying and boxing and six percent using sharp weapons to inflict pain.

It said about 20 percent of the practitioners were abused more than once, 40 percent had it once or twice and added that about 60 percent of the abused were non-Saudis and 40 percent Saudis.

It concluded that about 60 percent of the medical cadres in the Kingdom were attacked or abused.