OBJECTIVE: To investigate (1) the prevalence of occupational violence in out-of-hours (OOH) primary care, (2) the perceived cause of violence, and (3) the associations between occupation, gender, age, years of work, and occupational violence. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered postal questionnaire. SETTING: Twenty Norwegian OOH primary care centres. SUBJECTS: Physicians, nurses, and others with patient contact at OOH primary care centres, 536 responders (75% response rate). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Verbal abuse, threats, physical abuse, sexual harassment. RESULTS: In total, 78% had been verbally abused, 44% had been exposed to threats, 13% physically abused, and 9% sexually harassed during the last 12 months. Significantly more nurses were associated with verbal abuse (OR 3.85, 95% confidence interval 2.17-6.67) after adjusting for gender, age, and years in OOH primary care. Males had a higher risk for physical abuse (OR 2.36, CI 1.11-5.05) and higher age was associated with lower risk for sexual harassment (OR 0.28, CI 0.14-0.59), when adjusted for background variables. Drug influence and mental illness were the most frequently perceived causes for the last occurring episode of physical abuse, threats, and verbal abuse. CONCLUSION: This first study on occupational violence in Norwegian OOH primary care found that a substantial number of health care workers experience occupational violence from patients or visitors. The employer should take action to prevent occupational violence in OOH primary care.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate (1) the prevalence of occupational violence in out-of-hours (OOH) primary care, (2) the perceived cause of violence, and (3) the associations between occupation, gender, age, years of work, and occupational violence. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered postal questionnaire. SETTING: Twenty Norwegian OOH primary care centres. SUBJECTS: Physicians, nurses, and others with patient contact at OOH primary care centres, 536 responders (75% response rate). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Verbal abuse, threats, physical abuse, sexual harassment. RESULTS: In total, 78% had been verbally abused, 44% had been exposed to threats, 13% physically abused, and 9% sexually harassed during the last 12 months. Significantly more nurses were associated with verbal abuse (OR 3.85, 95% confidence interval 2.17-6.67) after adjusting for gender, age, and years in OOH primary care. Males had a higher risk for physical abuse (OR 2.36, CI 1.11-5.05) and higher age was associated with lower risk for sexual harassment (OR 0.28, CI 0.14-0.59), when adjusted for background variables. Drug influence and mental illness were the most frequently perceived causes for the last occurring episode of physical abuse, threats, and verbal abuse. CONCLUSION: This first study on occupational violence in Norwegian OOH primary care found that a substantial number of health care workers experience occupational violence from patients or visitors. The employer should take action to prevent occupational violence in OOH primary care.
Authors: Santiago Gascón; Begoña Martínez-Jarreta; J Fabricio González-Andrade; M Angel Santed; Yolanda Casalod; M Angeles Rueda Journal: Int J Occup Environ Health Date: 2009 Jan-Mar
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