ABSTRACT

The necessity of anger or aggression control of the emergency nurses and other health personnel might play an important role in reducing emergency violence. In the present study, we aimed to demonstrate the effect of socio-demographic characteristics of health personnel working in the emergency department (ED) on their anger and aggression levels.

Twenty-four health personnel of ED (20 nurses, 1 public health, 2 medical officer, and 1 ATT) voluntarily participated in the present study. A survey was conducted face-to-face with “Aggression Scale” forms. Researchers applied socio-demographic questions, “Constant anger- Anger Style Scale,” “Buss-Durkee Aggression Scale,” and “personal information form“ to the health personnel working in ED. Analysis of the relationship between the variables in the study was analyzed by SPSS data method.

The average age of the respondents was 29 years, 58% were women, and 41.7% were working for >7 years. A total of 50% worked 1-3 years in ED. They apply the most verbal attacks. Anger level showed no differences according to education levels (p>0.05). Constant anger was high in the groups working <1 year, decreasing in subsequent years, and increasing after the 7th year (p=0.049). Anger control was less in the first year but increased in subsequent years (p=0.052). According to total working time, in the first year, constant anger, anger inward, and outward pulse were very high but in subsequent years decreased (p=0.0028, p=0.0039, and p=0.0043, respectively). Anger control was high in the groups working <1 year, decreasing in subsequent years, and increasing after the 7th year (p=0.069). Anger control was high in married and single workers than in divorced.

A proper assessment of the socio-demographic status of emergency health personnel would be useful in reducing violence in ED.

Keywords: Anger control, anger style, aggression, emergency violence