Objective  To analyze the prevalence and sociological influence factors of workplace violence (WPV) against medical staff and the impacts of MPV upon medical staff.

  Methods  We conducted a survey among 3 663 physicians and nurses recruited with random cluster sampling in 15 tertiary grade A hospitals located in 10 prefectures or municipalities of Shanxi province between January and July 2015. We used a self-modified existing questionnaire on medical staff′s exposure to WPV in the study.

  Results  The results of univariate factor analysis revealed following influencing factors of WPV against medical staff: years of working, high education backgroud, professional title, employment form, and working department. The medical staff in emergency department were most frequently (89.84%) exposed to WPV and those with undergraduate education reported a higher rate (67.43%) of WPV exposure. Verbal violence was a major form of WPV reported and most of the MPV occurred at wards, doctor′s offices, and nurse stations. Of the reported WPV perpetrators, 68.72% were family members of patients; 76.77% were male ; and 63.32% were aged 30 – 49 years. Based on the medical staff′s reporting, major origins of the WPV incidents included dissatisfaction for doctors′ therapeutic regimen or surgical option and treatment outcome (42.94%) and no response to patients′ unreasonable requirements (44.46%). The major strategies for coping with the WPV were tolerance or avoidance (reported by 52.10% of the medical staff) and patient explanation (67.48%).

  Conclusion  Verbal attack is a most common workplace violence in hospitals and has serious impact on medical staff′s mental health and could induce medical staff′s turnover intention. Relevant measures should be adopted to reduce workplace violence in hospitals.