Violence towards primary health care workers in Samsun, Turkey

Background: Violence at work has become an alarming phenomenon worldwide.
Objectives: To determine the frequency of exposure to some type of violence against primary health care workers(PHCWs) during the previous year and to identify factors associated with those experiences of violence.  
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all of the 19 primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Samsun, Turkey, between 28 June and 9 July 2004. A self-administered questionnaire was delivered to all of the PHCWs (575). Of these, 506 (88.0%) responded the survey.
Results: In all, 47.2% (239) PHCWs stated that during the previous year they had been exposed to at least one case of violence of any type. Most of the PHCWs experienced verbal abuse (45.8%), followed by sexual harassment (3.4%) and physical action (2.8%). GPs, less aged PHCWs and less experienced PHCWs were more likely to exposure violence. Patients were the main perpetrators of all type of violence. Of the PHCWs exposed any type of violence 35.2 % (84) reported it to the health care administrators and 4.2%(10) reported that to the legal professionals.
Conclusions: Violence towards PHCWs is a common occupational hazard. The necessary framework for the reduction and elimination of violence in the PHCCs should be provided.
Key words: Workplace violence; primary health care workers; primary health care centers.