Receptionists' perceptions of violence in general practice.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Healthcare Management
• Psychology

Background:

• Violence and threatening behavior are recognized hazards for healthcare employees.
• Research on general practice (GP) receptionists' perceptions of workplace violence is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors influencing reception staff perceptions of future workplace violence risk.
• To understand the psychological and environmental factors affecting healthcare receptionists' safety concerns.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted among reception staff in 49 UK general practices.
• Self-administered postal questionnaires were used to collect data.
• The study included 207 reception staff participants.

Main Results:

• Past experiences of threats or attacks significantly increased fear of future incidents (OR 4.9-4.6).
• Higher neuroticism scores correlated with increased worry about future violence.
• Feeling safe, supported, and having lower workplace stress reduced anxiety about threats.
• Training on handling violent incidents enhanced feelings of safety (OR = 1.27).

Conclusions:

• Previous exposure to workplace violence heightens receptionists' anxiety about future events.
• A supportive work environment, controlled stressors, and specific training are key to reducing staff anxiety.
• Interventions should focus on creating a safer workplace and equipping staff with de-escalation skills.