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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
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Abstract

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

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