FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH REASONS, CHARACTERISTICS AND FREQUENCY OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE TOWARDS EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT STAFF

Abstract

Introduction: As in almost all medical institutions providing health care service, violence is also one of the serious and vital challenges in emergency deparments (EDs). Researches and reports show that prevalence of violence in EDs is increasing day by day. The aim of this study is to determine reasons, frequency and types of violence applied by patients and their relatives against healthcare professionals and to discuss the possible measures that may be taken.
 Material and Method: The health professionals working in EDs of our hospital were asked for filling out surveys voluntarily by talking face to face. Chi-square test was used so as to compare the categorical variables between two groups. Results were presented as mean ±SS or frequency (percent). In 95 %percent confidence interval, p < 0.05 was accepted as significant. 
 Results: A total of 343 volunteers participated in our study; % 44.3 of them were female (n=152) and %55.7 of them were male (n=191). Mean age was 30.30 ± 7.67 years. Most of the participants were nurses and midwives (n=91, % 26.5). It was realized that %77.6 of staff have been at least one time exposed to violence during their working hours, mostly male patients resorted to the violence (% 83.8) and predominantly they were average of 30-41 age (% 76.7). The most common type of violence was emotional/verbal violence (%84.2). When the violence has been examined according to days and hours, they were mostly exposed to violence every week day (% 26.7); between the hours of 18:00 and 24.00 (% 71.4). Suggestions of the participants to reduce workplace violence in the ED were constitution of heavy punishments, increasing the number of security personnel and making legal arrangements, respectively.
 Conclusion: Besides being a deep trouble worsening day by day all over the world, the violence in emergency services has also been turning out an unignorable problem in our EDs. Efficient studies that may be useful and embrace permanent solutions should be carried out so as to prevent violence exposed by health professionals having to work under heavy conditions and to care for a great number of patients.