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Violence against radiologists. I: prevalence and preventive measures

Violenza contro i radiologi. I: prevalenza e misure preventive

  • Ethics and Forensic Radiology / Etica e Radiologia Forense
  • Published:
La radiologia medica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Violence in the workplace is a specific risk for healthcare workers. Radiologists, especially when involved in emergency services, share that risk. Very few studies in the literature have researched this topic. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of violent behaviour in a large sample of Italian radiologists and analyse the phenomenon and its consequences with a view to proposing preventive measures.

Materials and methods

A total of 992 radiologists (61.5% men) taking part in a national radiology congress agreed to respond to a questionnaire on violence that contained the Violent Incident Form by Arnetz for the description of violent incidents in healthcare practice.

Results

Some 6.8% of radiologists in public hospitals experienced physical abuse in the previous 12 months, for the most part from patients or their companions. The prevalence of physical abuse is greatest among younger healthcare individuals with less clinical experience, with no differences between sexes. Among younger radiologists, one in five suffered at least one act of physical abuse in a working year. Nonphysical violence is more widespread and throughout radiologists’ working lives affects 65.2% of them. In this case, almost half of the violent incidents originate from colleagues. A total of 5.5% of respondents stated that they were victims of abuse at the time of the survey. In most cases, the violent incidents remain unreported. The immediate consequences of violence in the workplace are emotions such as anger, disappointment, humiliation, anxiety, fear, distress, a feeling of helplessness and isolation, occasionally a feeling of guilt or of having done wrong and a desire to take revenge, change behaviour or change workplace.

Conclusions

The extent of the problem calls for the adoption of a series of measures aimed at eliminating the causes of the various forms of workplace violence.

Riassunto

Obiettivo

La violenza sul luogo di lavoro è un rischio specifico per i lavoratori della sanità. I radiologi, soprattutto se impegnati nei servizi di emergenza e pronto soccorso, condividono tale rischio. La letteratura è molto povera di studi sull’argomento. Questo lavoro si propone di valutare la prevalenza dei comportamenti violenti in un campione ragguardevole dei radiologi italiani, di analizzare il fenomeno e le sue conseguenze, per proporre le misure preventive.

Materiali e metodi

Novecentonovantadue (992) radiologi (61,5% di genere maschile), convenuti per il congresso nazionale della disciplina, hanno accettato di rispondere a un questionario sulla violenza, contenente il Violent Incident Form (VIF) di Arnetz per la descrizione degli eventi violenti nelle attività sanitarie.

Risultati

Il 6,8% dei radiologi nelle strutture pubbliche ha subito negli ultimi 12 mesi una aggressione fisica, prevalentemente da parte di pazienti o loro accompagnatori. La prevalenza delle aggressioni è massima nei soggetti più giovani e con minore esperienza clinica e non presenta differenze di sesso. Tra i radiologi giovani, uno su cinque subisce almeno una aggressione fisica in un anno di lavoro. La violenza non fisica è molto più diffusa e riguarda, nel corso della vita lavorativa, il 65,2% dei radiologi. In questo caso, quasi metà delle aggressioni proviene da colleghi. Il 5,5% dei rispondenti ha dichiarato di essere tuttora sottoposto ad abusi al momento dell’indagine. Nella gran parte dei casi, le aggressioni non sono segnalate. Le conseguenze immediate della violenza sono emozioni come rabbia, delusione, umiliazione, ansia, paura, angoscia, sensazione di essere indifeso e isolato, a volte senso di colpa o di avere sbagliato, impulso a vendicarsi, a cambiare modo di agire, a cambiare posto di lavoro.

Conclusioni

La rilevanza del fenomeno impone la tempestiva adozione di una serie di misure, mirate ad eliminare i determinanti delle varie forme di violenza sul lavoro.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Medicina del Lavoro, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Roma, Italy

    N. Magnavita

  2. Istituto Nazionale di Riposo e Cura dell’Anziano (INRCA), Roma, Italy

    A. Fileni

  3. Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS — Dipartimento di Scienze Oncologiche e Chirurgiche dell’Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy

    L. Pescarini

  4. CNR presso Ministero dell’Ambiente, Roma, Italy

    G. Magnavita

Authors
  1. N. Magnavita
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  2. A. Fileni
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  3. L. Pescarini
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  4. G. Magnavita
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Correspondence to N. Magnavita.

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Magnavita, N., Fileni, A., Pescarini, L. et al. Violence against radiologists. I: prevalence and preventive measures. Radiol med 117, 1019–1033 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-012-0825-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-012-0825-7

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