'Is there a happy ending?': A qualitative study on the workplace violence experiences of female physiotherapists in Spain.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the experiences of female physiotherapists facing workplace violence.

DESIGN

A descriptive phenomenological approach.

PARTICIPANTS AND

SETTING

Twenty-two Spanish female physiotherapists from both public and private practice settings were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling.

METHODS

Data were collected through individualized semi-structured interviews. Interviews averaged 40 minutes, were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim in Spanish, and analysed. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis with ATLAS.ti computer software.

RESULTS

Four main themes were identified: (1) characterizing workplace violence against physiotherapists, which includes physical and verbal aggression, as well as sexual harassment, primarily perpetrated by patients, their relatives, and occasionally superiors; (2) socialization and reporting of workplace violence, where participants often refrained from sharing or reporting incidents due to shame, fear of retaliation, or perceived impunity; (3) coping styles and consequences of workplace violence, which ranged from minimisation and emotional distancing to significant psychological distress, professional devaluation, and, in some cases, resignation; and (4) prevention of workplace violence, highlighting the importance of setting clear boundaries, developing protocols, improving workplace safety measures, and providing training on violence prevention and labour rights.

CONCLUSIONS

Physiotherapists experience physical, verbal, and sexual violence, mainly from patients and their relatives, causing significant emotional impact. Underreporting is driven by fear of retaliation and perceived impunity. Preventive strategies, training on violent behaviour, workplace protocols, and improved policies are essential to ensure their safety and protection. CONTRIBUTION OF PAPER.