Workplace Violence in UK Emergency Rooms

A UK report appearing in the April 2007 issue of Emergency Medicine Journal studies workplace violence in emergency rooms. The study is described as the first of its kind in the UK and reports that 80% of personnel received one verbally abusive call per shift.

Frustration from not understanding how emergency room procedures work is given as the number one reason for the verbal abuse. The main source of abuse is from patients but the reports also includes statistics on other sources such as from other doctors and nurses. The report recommends improving management support and having clear protocols to respond to abusive situations.