Abstract: Objective: To explore the distribution characteristics and potential causes of workplace violence on medical workers which were represented in reports, thus providing measures for prevention of medical violence. Methods: We collected the data of medical violent events that were reported from 2013 to 2016 by searching the Internet, and then analyzed geographical distributions, temporal distributions, causes and consequences of these reported events. Results: These reported violent events mainly occurred in the eastern part of China, tertiary grade A hospital and emergency department. There were highest incidences in summer from May to August. Assaulters were mainly young men and unsatisfaction of therapeutic results was the main cause. Conclusion: The occurence of medical violent events is related to area, time, the level of hospitals and department. Analysis of background and the cause might provide the basis for the prevention and intervention of the medical violent events.

Key words: medical violent events, Internet, doctor-patient relationship, workplace violence