Saf Health Work.  2021 Jun;12(2):141-146. 10.1016/j.shaw.2020.12.004.

Determination of the Society's Perceptions, Experiences, and Intentions to Use Violence Against Health Professionals

• Döndü
• Yasemin B

• KMID: 2518528
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2020.12.004

Abstract

Background
Violence against health professionals is an increasing problem in Turkey. This study aims to determine the societal perception of violence, experience of violence, and the intentions to use violence against health professionals.
Methods
This descriptive study sample comprised 484 individuals. Data were collected by using the “Descriptive Information Form” and “Intentions to Use Violence against Health Professionals Scale.”
Results
Of the participants, 8.3% used violence against health professionals. Most of the participants (81.2%) stated that violence was not a solution, and 65.9% believed that health professionals did not deserve violence. Past behavior of the participants was the most influential factor on the intention to use violence (β = .473, p = 0.000).
Conclusions
More than half of the participants believed that health professionals did not deserve violence and violence was not a solution. We found that intention to use violence was affected by past experiences.

Keyword

Health professional; Intention of violence; Perception of violence; Society; Theory of planned behavior