Factors associated with occurrence of workplace violence against healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a meta-analysis.

Objectives . Healthcare systems all over the world are increasingly alarmed by the prevalence of workplace violence (WPV) directed at healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the aim of the current review was to investigate the factors associated with WPV against HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods . This study was conducted in December 2021. Four international databases along with two Iranian databases were searched. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement served as the foundation for the reporting procedure. Results . A total of 13 articles were included in the analysis. Results showed that females are less at risk of WPV (odds ratio [ OR ] 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.67, 0.84], p  = 0.000 based on a fixed-effects model). Moreover, significant association was found between education level ( OR 1.09, 95% CI [1.05, 1.14]), age (correlation = 0.025, 95% CI [0.014, 0.036]) and work experience (correlation = 0.028, 95% CI [0.016, 0.016]) and WPV. Conclusion . The primary factors linked to WPV exposure were found to be gender, education level, age and work experience. Additional research is necessary to provide more accurate and detailed data.