[Work-related violence among public health professionals (2008-2012)]

To describe the types of work-related violence and associated factors among professionals of the Navarra Health Service-Osasunbidea from August 2008 to December 2012.

This was a descriptive study of reported work-related violence incidents. The outcome variable was the type of violence (physical and/or verbal assault). The characteristics of the victims and the aggression were described using frequencies and percentages. Associations between the type of violence and the independent variables were evaluated using chi-square statistics. Work-related violence incidence rates per 100 worker-years were estimated and rates compared using the rate ratio.

684 attacks were reported (45.4%were verbal).Mental health was the service where most attacks were recorded (51.9%), predominantly physical. Verbal aggression were most common in primary and specialty care. The incidence of aggressions were highest among orderlies (4.5 per 100 worker-years), mental health (5,5 per 100 worker-years) and professionals under 35 years of age (5.9 per 100 worker-years). Rates were similar in men and women (1.6 per 100 workeryears). However, when stratified by professional category, women at the greatest risk were female physicians and administrative assistants; among the men, risk was greatest among male nurses and orderlies.

Factors associated with work-related violence, such as location and professional category, should be considered when designing preventive measures.