Determination of exposure to violence in health and communication skills of Family Health Center employees

Aim: Although there are many studies on violence in healthcare, there are very few studies on the exposure of healthcare professionals working in family health centers to violence. This study aims to evaluate the exposure to violence of healthcare professionals working in family health centers, whether there is a relationship between communication skills and exposure to violence, and if there is a relationship, to develop strategies and suggestions by the direction of the relationship. Methods: The study was conducted in a descriptive and relationship-seeking nature. The research was conducted with healthcare professionals working in family health centers in the central districts of Erzurum province between 11.11.2022 and 02.02.2024, without selecting a sample. 214 volunteer healthcare professionals were reached for the research. Introductory information form, violence questions and health workers' communication skills scale form were used to collect data. The forms were filled out by healthcare professionals during a face-to-face meeting. Results: In the study, 89,7% of family health center employees stated that they were exposed to violence, and the types of violence were verbal violence 52,79%, psychological violence 29,61%, physical violence 10,06%, economic violence 5,87% and sexual violence 5%, respectively. It was determined to be 1,68. The total average of healthcare professionals' communication skills was 92,69±12,67 points. When we look at the communication skills of healthcare professionals, the score is 26,52±4,08 in the empathy sub-dimension, 31,69±4,43 in the informative communication sub-dimension, 16,22±2,47 in the respect sub-dimension, and 18,26±3,57 in the social skills sub-dimension. It is seen that the score is average. Conclusion: Most of the healthcare professionals working in family health centers are subjected to violence. The most common type of violence is verbal violence, and the professional group that suffers the most violence is nurses. The average communication skills of healthcare professionals were found to be high. The relationship between violence and communication skills was not found to be significant.