Public point of view for the increasing violance towards health workers

PUBLİC POİNT OF VİEW FOR THE İNCREASİNG VİOLANCE TOWARDS HEALTH WORKERS Dr. Emine SARCAN Recidency Thesis, Department of Emergency Medicine Supervisor: Assoc. Dr. Behçet AL June-2013, 109 Pages AIM: In this study we researched the public point of view towards the increasing violence in health, their relationship with violence, the reasons for violence and what could be done to prevent it. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This study was performed between November 2012 and February 2013 in Gaziantep city center by The Emergency Department of Gaziantep University Medical Faculty. A survey consisting of 33 questions was performed with 1600 participant close to the general structure of the population face to face. Chi-square and Yates correction Chi-square test were used. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. FINDINGS: 52.7% percent of the participants had exercised violence on health workers including doctors (28.2%) and nurses (17.8%). 38.5% of the participants exercised violence at least once and 2% more than five times. The most important reasons for violence according to the participants were the workers not abiding their obligations (15.9%), the prolonged waiting time in the hospital (15%), violence provocation on media (13.6%) and the politicians declarations against the health workers (9.7%). 20.3% percent thought violence was an advocacy method. The most irritation cause was the participant?s not being taken into consideration (28%). 13.3% percent thought that the doctors should be beaten / killed for the patients not being able to be saved. 14.3% percent were happy for the news that a health worker was beaten or killed. People who exercised violence or who had a tendency for violence were between 24-30 ages, male and with a low level of education (p<0.001). 10.5% of the people agreeing with violence being a method for avocation and 22.2% of the people agreeing with doctors should be beaten / killed for the patients not being able to be saved were people who never had any arguments with health workers. 16.6% of the participants indicated that health workers including doctors and nurses exercised violence towards themselves. CONCLUSION: An important portion of the population viewed violence towards the health workers as a way of advocacy, approved violence and were pleased by these events. Mostly not being taken into consideration, the media?s and the politicians actions against the health workers were blamed for violence. KEY WORDS: Health worker, violence, public view, media, politician, education.