Paramedic occupational violence mitigation : A comprehensive systematic review of emergency service worker prevention strategies and experiences for use in prehospital care

Journal article


Drew, Peter, Tippett, Vivienne and Devenish, Scott. (2021). Paramedic occupational violence mitigation : A comprehensive systematic review of emergency service worker prevention strategies and experiences for use in prehospital care. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 78(11), pp. 841-848. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2020-107037
AuthorsDrew, Peter, Tippett, Vivienne and Devenish, Scott
Abstract

Occupational violence is a significant issue within the context of prehospital healthcare with the majority of paramedics reporting some form of abuse, intimidation, physical or sexual assault during their career. Though the paramedic literature acknowledges the severity of this issue, there is limited literature examining occupational violence mitigation strategies. Despite this, the operational and environmental similarities that exist between paramedics and other emergency service workers such as the police and firefighters, provide an opportunity to review relatable occupational violence mitigation strategies and experiences.

This review used Joanna Briggs Institute guidance for systematic reviews of both qualitative evidence and effectiveness. Studies included in this review incorporated those published in English from 1990 to January 2020.

Two qualitative studies met the criteria for review. From these, a total of 22 findings were extracted and combined to form four categories from which two syntheses were developed. Twenty-four quantitative studies, encompassing six unique fields, met the criteria for review.

Mitigation strategies for emergency service worker occupational violence are not easily defined. They are dynamic, multilayered and encompass a variety of complex social, medical and psychological influences. In spite of this, there are clear benefits to their application in regard to the approaches and training of violence mitigation. The paramedic environment would benefit from strategies that are flexible to the ongoing needs of the workers and the specific cultural, environmental and social factors that encompass the paramedic organisation.

Year2021
JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine
Journal citation78 (11), pp. 841-848
PublisherBMJ Publishing Group
ISSN1351-0711
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2020-107037
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85101966398
Open accessPublished as green open access
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range8 pages
Author's accepted manuscript
License
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Open
Publisher's version
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All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online03 Mar 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted30 Dec 2020
Deposited11 Apr 2022
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