Violence in general practice: a gendered risk?

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Occupational Health
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Violence against healthcare professionals is a growing concern.
• Understanding the gendered dimensions of this violence is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Family doctors (GPs) in England face unique workplace challenges and patient interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the gendered experiences of violence among general practitioners in England.
• To explore how workplace organization and gender influence the perception and reporting of violence.
• To identify potential implications of a feminizing GP workforce on organizational routines regarding violence.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining a postal survey of 1,300 GPs and in-depth interviews with 26 assaulted/threatened doctors.
• Qualitative data collection through 13 primary care team focus groups and 19 GP interviews on violence.
• Analysis of survey data (response rate 62%) and qualitative insights to identify gender-based differences in violence experiences.

Main Results:

• Most GPs of all genders reported verbal abuse, often linked to decreased professional deference.
• Physical assaults and threats were less common, with men more likely to report them.
• Women GPs showed higher levels of concern and personal precautions; younger male GPs in inner-city areas also reported high concern.

Conclusions:

• The experience of violence against family doctors in England is significantly gendered.
• Organizational aspects of general practice, structured along gendered lines, contribute to these differential experiences.
• The increasing proportion of women in general practice may necessitate a re-evaluation of existing, often implicit, organizational routines for managing workplace violence.