The relationship between violence proneness and history of violence in emergency department patients

This study analyzed the relationship between violence tendency and history of violence in emergency department patients.

The study included 384 patients presenting to the Emergency Medicine Unit at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University. A questionnaire containing demographic information and the Buss-Perry Aggression Scale was administered to the patients. The demographic information form included questions regarding gender, age, marital status, occupation, reason for emergency room visit, chronic disease, regular medication use, emergency room history, and nominal variables that may be associated with aggression.

Physical aggression, anger and hostility score were significantly higher for participants who subjected to verbal violence, use physical and verbal violence and has criminal record (p < 0.05). Verbal aggression was significantly higher for participants who use physical and verbal violence and has criminal record (p < 0.05). Physical aggression was significantly correlated with subjected to verbal violence (r = 0.139; p < 0.01), use of physical violence (r = 0.170; p < 0.01), use of verbal violence (r = 0.270; p < 0.01) and criminal record (r = 0.277; p < 0.01). Anger score was significantly correlated with subjected to verbal violence (r = 0.138; p < 0.01), use of physical violence (r = 0.169; p < 0.01), use of verbal violence (r = 0.221; p < 0.01) and criminal record (r = 0.273; p < 0.01). Hostility was significantly correlated with subjected to verbal violence (r = 0.152; p < 0.01), use of physical violence (r = 0.168; p < 0.01), use of verbal violence (r = 0.213; p < 0.01) and criminal record (r = 0.224; p < 0.01). Verbal aggression was significantly correlated with use of physical violence (r = 0.146; p < 0.01), use of verbal violence (r = 0.190; p < 0.01) and criminal record (r = 0.251; p < 0.01).

Our research results revealed that previous verbal abuse, verbal and physical abuse, and a criminal record significantly associated the tendency of violence in emergency departments. However, these results are related to the scale's level of tendency, and further research is needed to determine predictive results. Emergency medicine history, however, did not significantly affect or differentiate violence.