[Exposure of medical rescuers to aggression at the workplace]

Members of the medical rescue team are exposed to several dangerous and harmful factors, including emotional and physical stress, during their activities at the site of an accident. Basing on the literature it can be concluded that anxiety and low mood are present in each patient in a state of endangered life or health. The aim of study was to assess the incidence, sources, and types of aggression against medical rescuers depending on the place of work.

This study was done in 126 medical rescuers working in the province of Podlaskie. Questionnaires assessing the degree and types of aggression against medical rescuers and the GHQ28 General Heath Questionnaire were used.

Rescuers working in emergency rooms and ambulances reported that aggression most often was in the form of raised voice (95%), threats (85%), attempted assault and dangerous situation (91%). According to respondents working at hospital emergency departments, raised voice is most often encountered (95% of respondents). Threats were made against 72%, dangerous situations were noted by 59%, and attempted assault was experienced by 44% of respondents.

Rescuers working in ambulances and emergency rooms were more often exposed to aggression than rescuers working at hospital emergency departments. The exception was raised voice by patients which was noted with the same frequency irrespective of the place of work. Aggression from superiors and coworkers was evidently more often experienced in ambulances and emergency rooms.