Violence towards workers in hospital emergency services and in emergency medical care units in Samsun: an epidemiological study

Abstract

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of exposure to some form of violence during the previous 12 months and the State-Trait Anxiety levels of emergency medical care (EMC) and emergency service (ES) workers in Samsun. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in all EMC (5) units and ES (4) in Samsun, between April I and April 30, 2004. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all of the workers (n=320). RESULTS Of the workers, 280 (87.5%) completed the survey. A total of 202 (72.1%) participants reported that they had witnessed some form of violence. ES workers (75.9%) were more often exposed to violence than EMC workers (62.3%) (chi(2)=5.08, p<0.05). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that age, gender and anxiety regarding repetition of exposure to violence were related with higher state anxiety point, while anxiety regarding repetition of exposure to violence was related with higher trait anxiety point. CONCLUSION This evidence clearly indicates that violence in ES and EMC units is a common concern. The necessary framework for the reduction and elimination of violence in the workplace should be provided.