Aim: This study was designed to examine the prevalence and characteristics of violence encountered by medical residents at Aydın Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine. It aimed to identify sociodemographic and professional variables associated with exposure to violence and to explore the potential impact of such experiences on specialty selection and career orientation. In addition, the study aimed to bring the light medical residents’ views and proposed solutions concerning the prevention of violence within healthcare environments.

Method: A cross-sectional analytical design was held between 1^st of February and 31^st of May 2023. The whole universe consisted 483 medical residents. Based on a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error, the minimum required sample size was calculated as 215. Regarding potential data loss, the target sample was increased to 267. Ultimately, 297 residents voluntarily participated in the study. Data were obtained via a structured questionnaire consisting of 50 items organized into three sections: (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) experiences of workplace violence, and (3) proposed preventive measures. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software, and a p-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of participants was 30.1±5.3 years, and 51.5% were female. Overall, 73.1% of residents reported having been subjected to violence at some point during their medical training. Verbal violence was the most frequently reported form (73.1%), whereas 14.5% indicated exposure to physical violence. Incidents were most commonly reported in emergency departments (78.8%) and outpatient clinics (54.6%). In more than 90% of cases, the perpetrators were patients’ relatives. Furthermore, 32.3% of participants indicated that the perceived risk of violence played a role in their specialty choice. Exposure to violence was significantly associated with both the intention to change specialty and the consideration of pursuing a career abroad.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that a considerable proportion of medical residents are exposed to violence during their training, primarily in verbal form but also physically. Such experiences appear to exert a detrimental influence on professional motivation, specialty preferences, and future career plans. Addressing violence against healthcare professionals requires the effective implementation of legal frameworks, strengthening of institutional security measures, enhanced societal awareness, and the development of structured support systems within healthcare institutions.