Exploratory Study: Survey of Digital and Physical Threats and Assaults by Patients on American Psychiatry Resident Doctors

Abstract Background Workplace violence in health care, particularly against psychiatry residents, remains a substantial issue, with high rates of both physical assaults and emerging digital threats. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and nature of these risks to inform potential solutions. Methods Participants in this study were psychiatry residents from accredited US residency programs, with data collected via a 20-item anonymous self-report questionnaire distributed through program coordinators. The Google form survey, administered over 3 months (February through April 2024), assessed residents' experiences with various forms of workplace violence. Demographic data and details on safety measures, including training and online privacy protection, were also collected. Results Of the respondents, 78.9% of psychiatry residents experienced at least one form of assault: verbal threats (76.4%), physical assaults (15.0%), and sexual assault (2.4%). These incidents often occurred in inpatient settings with high-risk patients and limited security. A digital threat was reported by 0.8% of respondents. Meanwhile, 90.6% reported to have received safety training, while only a single participant reported having access to a subscription program provided by their institution to protect their personal information online. Discussion Although some psychiatry programs provide safety training, specific guidance on physical and digital safety remains inconsistent and varies by institution. Digital threats have recently emerged as a new concern, with increased online exposure potentially extending risk into the personal lives of residents. Conclusion These findings highlight the safety gaps and need for standardized, evidence-based protocols to protect psychiatry residents in light of the potential impact of physical and digital threats.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  The Permanente Journal

• Publication date

  2025-11-11

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Psychology

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.7812/TPP/25.067PMID 41215628PMCID 12703525
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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