A sociological study on the phenomenon of violence in emergency services: The case of Elazığ province

Violence, regardless of age, gender, race, etc., is a problem that can be experienced by individuals from all segments of society. It is both a personal and a social issue. In recent years, violence towards healthcare professionals, especially in the health sector, and towards other healthcare workers has increasingly been observed. Providing health services is inherently a team effort, and institutions providing uninterrupted services, particularly emergency services and hospitals, are frequently exposed to violence. Regardless of its type, violence negatively affects the team spirit, decreases the motivation of healthcare staff, and disrupts the health services provided to patients. In organizations providing uninterrupted health services, staff may face verbal, physical, or psychological violence from patients or their relatives. Similarly, internal conflicts among employees such as bullying/mobbing may also occur. Healthcare personnel working in units where various types of violence are encountered continue their duties to provide uninterrupted and faultless health services despite the increasing number of patients each passing day and the insufficient personnel and challenging working conditions. The aim of this study is to identify the causes and consequences of this significant phenomenon observed in emergency services and to present the issue of bullying/mobbing among healthcare workers. This study seeks to answer the following questions: "What are the reasons that lead individuals to use violence?", "How do healthcare workers react to violence they encounter?", "What measures have been taken or what training has been provided to ensure safety for health workers?", "What types of bullying/mobbing do individuals inflict on each other?", and "What are the consequences of these actions?" Questions such as "What behaviors do employees exhibit in the face of violence, and how do they seek their rights?" are explored in this study.Within the scope of the study, a survey was conducted with all emergency service personnel working in both private and public hospitals. In Toplam, 250 individuals participated in the survey. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 individuals who reported experiencing physical violence to gather qualitative data. The data collected from these studies were analyzed. The analysis focused on how individuals affected by various forms of violence are impacted, what actions they take following violent incidents, whether they receive support, and what coping strategies they employ against bullying/mobbing. This study, conducted specifically in emergency services in public and private hospitals, aims to provide a sociological perspective on the types of violence encountered in the health sector, their causes, and the coping strategies used by employees. The goal is to contribute, even if to a limited extent, to studies on violence in emergency services and to the development of violence prevention policies. Based on the findings from field research, it appears that personnel working in this field need competent, knowledgeable, and dedicated staff who will develop effective solutions to the issues and who will listen to their concerns with empathy and fairness. There are as many people with positive attitudes as those with negative ones regarding this issue. Key Words: Violence, Types of Violence, Violence in Healthcare, Mobbing/Bullying.