Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
Published on: July 4, 2013
[Analysis of patients violence in primary care]
M A Moreno Jiménez1, F Vico Ramírez, F J Zerolo Andrey
1Centro de Salud de Mancha Real (Distrito Sanitario de Jaén), Mancha Real, Jaén, España. med015108@saludalia.com
Objective:
Main aim: to determine the frequency of violence in primary care. Secondary aims: to analyse its causes, consequences and connection with professional burnout and reduced motivation.
Design:
Transversal, descriptive study.
Setting:
Primary care.
Participants:
68 primary care doctors from 4 districts in the province of Jaén (350, 19%).
Main Measurements:
Self-administered questionnaire with an ad hoc design, sent out by mail and including personal and job details and doctors' views on the causes and consequences of burnout and violence, and the attitudes of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) and professional bodies (overall reliability, Cronbach's alpha =.7898).
Results:
58% had suffered aggression (85% verbal abuse, 67.5% threats, 12.5% physical aggression). Being attacked was linked with attributing the responsibility to the patients (odds ratio [OR]=7.6, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-23), with doing extra shifts (OR=6.3; 95% CI, 1.2-33), rigidity (OR=3.5; 95% CI, 1.2-10.7), inadequate handling of emotive situations (OR=3.2; 95% CI, 1.1-9.2,) and incompetence (OR=5.2; 95% CI, 1.6-17). Violence scored the lowest as cause of burnout and was linked to the job being less rewarding (OR=2.9; 95% CI, 1.0-7.8). It was linked to irritation with the SAS (OR=2.8; 95% CI, 1.0-7.5) and fear of reduced motivation (OR=2.8; 95% CI, 1.0-7.5), with this latter being linked to loss of social prestige (P<.01), feeling low self-esteem (P<.01), and depression (P<.01).
Conclusions:
Violence is more common than in the figures given by the International Labour Organisation. It is associated with distrust, lack of communication in health care delivery and incompetence. It is the cause of burnout that is least appreciated and it is linked to the job being less rewarding and to greater fear of reduced motivation.
Related Concept Videos
Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
Patient-centered Care
Types of Reports II: Incident or Occurrence Report
Purposes:
In the healthcare industry, reports play a crucial role in documenting incidents within an agency. The primary objective of these reports is to ensure patient safety, uphold the...
SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
Ethical Standards II
Nurses are entrusted with upholding various ethical principles and standards. Nurses forge solid therapeutic relationships using trust, empathy, autonomy, confidentiality, and professional competence.
Confidentiality is crucial, embodying respect for individual privacy and...
Types of Reports III: Telephone and Verbal Reports
Here's an overview of each type:
Telephone Orders