Violence in general practice: Perceptions of cause and implications for safety

Magin, P; Adams, J; Joy, E; Ireland, M; Heaney, S; Darab, S

Violence in general practice: Perceptions of cause and implications for safety

Magin, P Adams, J

Joy, E Ireland, M Heaney, S Darab, S

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Canadian Family Physician, 2008, 54 (9), pp. 1278 - 1284
Issue Date:: 2008-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Magin, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Joy, E	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ireland, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Heaney, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Darab, S	en_US
dc.date.issued	2008-09-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Canadian Family Physician, 2008, 54 (9), pp. 1278 - 1284	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0008-350X	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15485
dc.description.abstract	OBJECTIVE: To explore GPs' opinions about the causes of occupational violence in general practice. DESIGN: A cross-sectional qualitative study. SETTING: Three urban divisions of general practice in New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 172 GPs: 18 GPs participated in focus group discussions and a further 154 provided written responses. METHOD: Purposive sampling was used to recruit GPs to participate in focus groups. Discussions were audiotaped and transcribed; each transcript was separately coded by all members of the research team. Focus groups were conducted until thematic saturation was achieved. Further qualitative data were obtained by offering GPs the opportunity, during completion of a written questionnaire sent to all GPs practising in the 3 urban divisions, to provide additional comments regarding their experiences and perceptions of violence. A modified grounded-theory approach, employing thematic analysis of the focus group transcripts and written responses from the questionnaires, was used. MAIN FINDINGS: All focus group participants and 75% of questionnaire respondents had experienced episodes of violence during their general practice careers. Key themes that emerged in data analysis were used to construct a schema of participating GPs' perceptions of the causes of occupational violence. Elements in the schema include underlying causes, proximate causes, and GP vulnerability. Perhaps the most noteworthy findings within this structure were the emergent constructs - culture of fear, "naïve" practice culture, and GP vulnerability. To date these themes have not been evident in general practice literature on this topic. CONCLUSION: An understanding of GPs' perceptions regarding the causes of violence will be useful in planning general practice service provision and promoting GP safety.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Canadian Family Physician	en_US
dc.subject.classification	General & Internal Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Focus Groups	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Questionnaires	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude of Health Personnel	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Physician-Patient Relations	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Family Practice	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Precipitating Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Violence	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Physicians, Family	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Urban Health Services	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires	en_US
dc.title	Violence in general practice: Perceptions of cause and implications for safety	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	9	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	54	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
dc.location.activity	ISI:000259503300021	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	9	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	54	en_US

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore GPs' opinions about the causes of occupational violence in general practice. DESIGN: A cross-sectional qualitative study. SETTING: Three urban divisions of general practice in New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 172 GPs: 18 GPs participated in focus group discussions and a further 154 provided written responses. METHOD: Purposive sampling was used to recruit GPs to participate in focus groups. Discussions were audiotaped and transcribed; each transcript was separately coded by all members of the research team. Focus groups were conducted until thematic saturation was achieved. Further qualitative data were obtained by offering GPs the opportunity, during completion of a written questionnaire sent to all GPs practising in the 3 urban divisions, to provide additional comments regarding their experiences and perceptions of violence. A modified grounded-theory approach, employing thematic analysis of the focus group transcripts and written responses from the questionnaires, was used. MAIN FINDINGS: All focus group participants and 75% of questionnaire respondents had experienced episodes of violence during their general practice careers. Key themes that emerged in data analysis were used to construct a schema of participating GPs' perceptions of the causes of occupational violence. Elements in the schema include underlying causes, proximate causes, and GP vulnerability. Perhaps the most noteworthy findings within this structure were the emergent constructs - culture of fear, "naïve" practice culture, and GP vulnerability. To date these themes have not been evident in general practice literature on this topic. CONCLUSION: An understanding of GPs' perceptions regarding the causes of violence will be useful in planning general practice service provision and promoting GP safety.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/15485