Occupational Stress Related to Workplace Violence among Emergency Medical Workers Working in Emergency Medical Centers in Alborz Province

Abstract

Background and Objectives Health system workers, especially those like emergency medical personnel who are in direct contact with patients, are highly susceptible to workplace violence. A significant consequence of such violence is occupational stress. This study aims to explore the prevalence of workplace violence and its association with occupational stress among emergency medical workers in Alborz province in the year 2022. Subjects and Methods This descriptive correlational study was conducted with 124 emergency medical workers at road and urban bases in Alborz province. The research tools included a Persian-adapted standard workplace violence questionnaire and the occupational stress questionnaire from the Health and Safety Institute of England. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics via SPSS software, version 26. Results The findings revealed that 62.1% of participants experienced physical violence, and 90% faced psychological violence. The highest incidence of physical (47.4%) and psychological (41.4%) violence occurred during the evening shift, while the morning shift saw the lowest rates. The average occupational stress levels for workers at road and urban bases were significantly high, measured at 120.5 ± 11.49 and 110.8 ± 16.76, respectively. Occupational stress was found to correlate negatively with the age and work experience of the employees, indicating lower stress levels with increasing age and experience. Conclusion Emergency medical workers often face highly stressful and anxious situations involving patients and their families. The nature of their work frequently exposes them to violence from patients or their companions, leading to heightened occupational stress.