Occupational violence problems in an emergency hospital in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Workplace violence is currently a worrying factor at many hospitals. The objectives of this study were to characterize the occupational violence problems detected by health workers in an emergency hospital. The study was exploratory and transversal, with a quantitative data approach. It took place at the emergency ward of a general hospital in Londrina, Paraná. The study population included 33 people from the nursing team and 14 medical doctors.Data were collected through interviews with health workers and staff managers, as well as assessment of violence records from the last seven years. 100% of nurses, 88.9% of technicians, 88.2% of nurse assistants, and 85.7 % of doctors said that they had been victims of workplace violence, although not documented. The types of violence suffered included verbal assault (95.2%) and moral and sexual battery (33.3%). Preventive measures to reduce occupational violence should be applied.