Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-hvd4g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-04T21:15:31.680Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Factors Associated with Workplace Violence in Paramedics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Stella Koritsas ,
Malcolm Boyle  and
Jan Coles
Stella Koritsas*
Affiliation:
Centre for Development Disability Health Victoria, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Malcolm Boyle
Affiliation:
Community Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Jan Coles
Affiliation:
Department of General Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
*
Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC, 3168 Australia, E-mail: stella.koritsas@med.monash.edu.au
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Introduction:

The majority of research that has explored workplace violence has focused on establishing the prevalence of violence in different settings. In general, there is a paucity of research that explores factors that may predict or increase the risk of experiencing violence in the workplace.

Objective:

The aim of this research was to determine predictors of violence for paramedics.

Methods:

A questionnaire was developed that focused on paramedics' experi-ences with six forms of violence: verbal abuse, property damage/theft, intimi-dation, physical abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.The questionnaire was distributed randomly to paramedics throughout rural Victoria and metropolitan South Australia, and completed and returned anonymously.

Results:

Predictors emerged for verbal abuse, intimidation, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse. Specifically, gender was the only predictor of intimidation, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. Paramedic qualifications, how they responded to a call-out, and hours per week in direct patient contact emerged as a predictor of verbal abuse.

Conclusions:

Certain factors predict or predispose paramedics to workplace violence. The need for workplace violence education and training is impera-tive for the prevention of violence, as well as for its management.

Keywords

assaultemergency medical servicesparamedicspredictorsworkplace violence
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 24 , Issue 5 , October 2009 , pp. 417 - 421
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2009

References

1.Cembrowicz, S, Ritter, S: Attacks on Doctors and Nurses. In: Shepherd, J (ed), Violence in Health Care: A Practical Guide to Coping With Violence and Caring for Victims. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1994, pp 13–41.Google Scholar
2.Alexander, C., Fraser, J: Occupational violence in an Australian healthcare set-ting: Implications for managers. J Healthc Manag 2004;49:377–390.Google Scholar
3.Koritsas, S, Coles, J, Boyle, M, et al. : Prevalence and predictors of occupation-al violence and aggression towards general practitioners: A cross-sectional study. Br J Gen Pract 2007;57:967–970.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Magin, PJ, Adams, J, Sibbritt, DW, et al. : Experiences of occupational violence in Australian urban general practice: A cross-sectional study of GPs. Med J Aust 2005;183:352–356.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Tolhurst, H, Baker, L, Murray, G, et al. : Rural general practitioner experience of work-related violence in Australia. Aust J Rural Health 2003;11:231–236.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Brown, R, Bute, S, Forde, P (eds.): Social Workers at Risk: The Prevention and Management of Violence. Basingstoke, United Kingdom: Macmillan, 1986.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Jayaratne, S: A national survey of violence in the practice of social work. Fam Soc 2004;85:445–453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Littlechild, B: The stresses arising from violence, threats and aggression against child protection social workers. J of Soc Work 2005;5:61–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Macdonald, G, Sirotich, F: Violence in the social work workplace: The Canadian experience. Int Soc Work 2005;48:772–781.Google Scholar
10.Newhill, CE: Prevalence and risk factors for client violence toward social workers. Fam Soc 1996;77:488–495.Google Scholar
11.Norris, D (ed.): Violence against Social Workers. London: Jessica Kingsley, 1990.Google Scholar
12.Spencer, PC: Client violence toward social workers: The role of management in community mental health programs. Soc Work 2003;48:532–544.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Winstanley, S, Hales, L: Prevalence of aggression towards residential social workers: Do qualifications and experience make a difference? Child Youth Care Forum 2008;37:103–110.Google Scholar
14.Boyle, M, Koritsas, S, Coles, J, et al. : A pilot study of workplace violence towards paramedics. EMJ 2007;24:760–763.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Corbett, SSW, Grange, JJT, Thomas, TTL: Exposure of prehospital care providers to violence. Prehosp Emerg Care 1998;2:127–231.Google Scholar
16.Grange, JT, Corbett, SW: Violence against emergency medical services personnel. Prehosp Emerg Care 2002;6:186–190.Google Scholar
17.Mechem, CC, Dickinson, ET, Shofer, FS, et al. : Injuries from assaults on para-medics and firefighters in an urban emergency medical services system. Prehosp Emerg Care 2002;6:396–401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18.Pozzi, C: Exposure of prehospital providers to violence and abuse. J Emerg Nurs 1998;24:320–332.Google Scholar
19.Suserud, BO, Blomquist, M, Johansson, I: Experiences of threats and violence in the Swedish ambulance service. Accid Emerg Nurs 2002;10:127–35.Google Scholar
20.Wynne, R, Clarkin, N, Cox, T, et al. : Guidance on the Prevention of Violence at Work. Luxembourg: European Commission, 1997.Google Scholar
21.Robinson, R: Follow-Up Study of Health and Stress in Ambulance Services of Victoria, Australia 2002. Report 1. Paramedics and their Partners. Melbourne: Victorian Ambulance Crisis Counselling Unit; 2002.Google Scholar
22.Arnetz, JE, Arnetz, BB, Petterson, IL: Violence in the nursing profession: Occupational and lifestyle risk factors in Swedish what is the rest of this ref-erence?. Work Stress 1996;10:119–127.Google Scholar
23.Vanderslott, J: A study of violence towards staff by patients in an NHS Trust Hospital. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 1998;5:291–298.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24.Mayhew, C., Chappell, D: Prevention of Occupational Violence in the Health Workplace. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology; 2001.Google Scholar
25.Arnetz, JE, Arnetz, BB: Violence towards health care staff and possible effects on the quality of patient care. Soc Sci Med 2001;52:417–427.Google Scholar