Percepción de violencia física y factores asociados en profesionales y técnicos paramédicos en la atención prehospitalaria

Abstract

Physical violence is a phenomenon that has become a public health issue. Objective: To determine the perception of paramedical technicians and professionals from the Emergency Medical Assistance Service (SAMU) about physical violence and its associated factors. Methods: Descriptive, correlational, and comparative research. The universe was composed by the professional population and a sample of paramedical technicians from three regions of Chile. Results: 28.4% of professionals and 25% of paramedical technicians have perceived physical violence during last year. 5.4% of technicians have perceived violence with the use of firearms or bladed weapons. Only a 5.4% of violent incidents are investigated and 1.5% are reported. Violence against adult people is the variable that was mostly associated to physical violence perception. Conclusions: There is strong perception of violence in pre-hospital care area and many of the incidents are neither investigated nor reported.