Current situation of agressions by patients and family members on Primary Care professionals of the health area of A Coruña and Cee, development of this problem since 2019 and influence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

The health system is the public sector where more workplace violence take place. There is little information about the violence situations not officially communicated and their consequences on the workers and the health system. 

Study type

This is a descriptive and transversal study, through a self-reporting questionnaire.

Method

An anonymized and self-reporting questionnaire was used for the data collection. It was sent to all the primary healthcare professionals in the A Coruña’s health area, three times between January and March of 2022.

Results

The response rate was 23,1%. 87,3% (IC95% 83,6-90,4) suffered some type of aggression, either verbal or physical, throughout their worklife, 66% (IC95% 60,9%-70,8%) of them in 2021. Age, time worked and professional categories are associated to aggression, with a risk reduction of at least 2,8% for each year worked (OR 0,93 IC95% 0,894-0,972). 25,5% (IC95% IC95% 20,3-31,5) of the assaulted individuals thought about quitting their jobs. A 74,9% of them didn’t notify or report the situation. 

Foul language is the most common type of violence (84,8% IC 95% 79,7-89), followed by insults (70% IC 95% 63,9-75,6). 

Conclusions

Workplace aggressions are increasing in primary healthcare and its repercussions on the workers and the institutions are very severe. The factors related to waiting or assistential organization are key. Prevention training is very scarce as well as the notification and report of this aggressions. 

Key words

Occupational health, workplace violence, primary health care.