Anger level of patients in outpatient waiting area and related factors

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Anger, commonly encountered in daily life, is a healthy emotional response that protects the individual from dangers and facilitates reaching his goals. Uncontrollable anger brings many problems that concern both the individual and the society. In this study, we aimed to determine the state anger level of the patients in outpatient clinic waiting room and related factors, and to contribute to the studies to be carried out to prevent violence in healthcare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our research is a cross-sectional study of descriptive type and was conducted by conducting a face-to-face survey of 500 patients in outpatient waiting rooms of Sakarya University Teaching and Research Hospital. Patients aged 18 years and over applied to cardiology, pulmonology, internal medicine, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery outpatient clinics, volunteered for our study were included in the study. A questionnaire consisting of 34 questions prepared by the researchers and Spielberger's situational anger scale consisting of 10 questions were used. RESULTS: In our study, those with a statistically significant increase in their state anger scale scores; who have low education level, low monthly income, smokers, difficulties in making an appointment, need help before registration and examination and cannot receive any help, think guiding signs in the hospital are not enough, can sit nowhere in outpatient room, have to wait for a long time, have not communication with the physician efficiently, uncomfortable with privileged patients, be disturbed with the hospital staff or other patients entering the room during examination, have used violence against healthcare workers before (p<0,05). CONCLUSION: It should not be forgotten that all components of a dynamic process that starts with the decision of the patients to apply to the doctor and ends with the provision of health care can affect the anger status of patients who are the main actors of violence in health care. Projects developed for precautionary purposes should be considered. More research is necessary to determine the situations that cause patients' anger.