Loading...
Individual and collective exposure to workplace violence of pre-hospital Emergency Care providers in urban Cape Town
Author(s)
Maake, Caroline Shirley
Date Issued
2020
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
Background: Interpersonal violence is an act committed by individuals but is an
attribute of society; thus, interpersonal violence is considered a social construct.
Such violence is nuanced when it occurs in the course of one‟s work. Workplace
violence is a worldwide phenomenon that is found in South African healthcare where
it threatens the safety of healthcare providers at their workplace. Violence
epidemiology shows South Africa to be among the most violent countries. Attacks on
ambulance personnel and threats to service delivery appear with increased
frequency, yet there is still a paucity of research evidence of this manifestation of
interpersonal violence.
Methods: The study followed a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive design.
Quantitative research involved numerical analysis of data by means of a structured,
self-administered and validated questionnaire instrument. Results: Of 254
emergency care providers that were invited to participate, 146 responded (57.6%).
The majority of participants (81%; n=119) experienced at least one incident of
workplace violence during the 12 month period preceding the survey. The dichotomy
of workplace violence is physical (n=42; 29%) and non-physical violence (53%;
n=77). The latter includes verbal abuse (77%), sexual harassment (26%), bullying
(37%) and racial harassment (47%). Major perpetrators of physical violence (Type I)
are the general public and non-physical violence (Type II) was perpetrated by
patients (n=87, 60%) and patients friends and relatives (n=83; 57%). The majority of
respondents (n=102, 69%) were very concerned about their exposure to violence
and violence risk which carries a concomitant risk of negative physical and
psychological effects. Such victimology may affect the victim‟s family and friends, as
well as the organisation.
Conclusion: The self-reported exposure to workplace violence is prevalent in the
Cape Town Emergency Medical Service. Understanding the nature and extent of
workplace violence will likely enable problem-specific solutions to be derived.
attribute of society; thus, interpersonal violence is considered a social construct.
Such violence is nuanced when it occurs in the course of one‟s work. Workplace
violence is a worldwide phenomenon that is found in South African healthcare where
it threatens the safety of healthcare providers at their workplace. Violence
epidemiology shows South Africa to be among the most violent countries. Attacks on
ambulance personnel and threats to service delivery appear with increased
frequency, yet there is still a paucity of research evidence of this manifestation of
interpersonal violence.
Methods: The study followed a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive design.
Quantitative research involved numerical analysis of data by means of a structured,
self-administered and validated questionnaire instrument. Results: Of 254
emergency care providers that were invited to participate, 146 responded (57.6%).
The majority of participants (81%; n=119) experienced at least one incident of
workplace violence during the 12 month period preceding the survey. The dichotomy
of workplace violence is physical (n=42; 29%) and non-physical violence (53%;
n=77). The latter includes verbal abuse (77%), sexual harassment (26%), bullying
(37%) and racial harassment (47%). Major perpetrators of physical violence (Type I)
are the general public and non-physical violence (Type II) was perpetrated by
patients (n=87, 60%) and patients friends and relatives (n=83; 57%). The majority of
respondents (n=102, 69%) were very concerned about their exposure to violence
and violence risk which carries a concomitant risk of negative physical and
psychological effects. Such victimology may affect the victim‟s family and friends, as
well as the organisation.
Conclusion: The self-reported exposure to workplace violence is prevalent in the
Cape Town Emergency Medical Service. Understanding the nature and extent of
workplace violence will likely enable problem-specific solutions to be derived.
Additional information
Thesis (Master of Emergency Medical Care (MEMC))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2020
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
Caroline_Maake_211181943.pdf
Size
1.42 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):c2b4934f6bbb5f2f2ac3315c661616ce