Evaluation of Verbal Violence against Emergency Medical Personnel at Work in 2014

verbal violence is on of the Job insecurity in workplace which is frequent among health care workers, especially emergency personnel. This study examined verbal workplace violence against emergency medical personnel that took place north of Khuzestan province. This research was a cross - sectional study using census method on 144 cases of emergency personnel of north Khuzestan who declared their satisfaction to take part in the study in 2014. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire consisted of four parts (demographic, psychological violence experience, racial violence and response to violence and its causes). Data analysis was performed by SPSS 16 software using descriptive and inferential tests. The mean age of subjects was 32.9±4.16 years and their experience in the emergency department was 5.9±2.25 years. In the past 12 months, 66.7 percent of staff had experienced at least one of the verbal violence and 65.3 percent had experienced psychological violence, 20.1 percent had experienced cultural, or racial violence separately. There was a significant relationship between violence and male patients (p=0.002). From medical personnel’s point of view the most common cause of violence was Low public awareness towards the duties of emergency medical personnel. The most common response to violence was to invite the offender to relax. Courses can be offered to raise public awareness and to teach medical emergency personnel how to deal with violence and prevent its occurrence.