Table 7.
Response to the verbal abuse/physical assault
| Action taken | Verbal abuse (n=78)
|
Physical assault (n=11)
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| Took no action | 42 (53.8) | 36 (46.2) | 1 (9.1) | 10 (90.9) |
| Told the person to stop | 46 (59.0) | 32 (41.0) | 4 (36.4) | 7 (63.6) |
| Tried to defend yourself | 39 (50.0) | 39 (50.0) | 3 (27.3) | 8 (72.7) |
| Shouted back at the patient | 12 (15.4) | 66 (84.6) | 3 (27.3) | 8 (72.7) |
| Became mean or sarcastic in your response | 8 (10.3) | 70 (89.7) | 3 (27.3) | 8 (72.7) |
| Walked away from the scene and avoided the patient from that point on | 29 (37.2) | 49 (62.8) | 5 (45.5) | 6 (54.5) |
| Reported to family/friends/colleagues | 28 (35.9) | 50 (64.1) | 4 (36.4) | 7 (63.6) |
| Reported to ED/hospital superior/supervisor | 43 (55.1) | 35 (44.9) | 4 (36.4) | 7 (63.6) |
| Completed incident report | 24 (30.8) | 54 (69.2) | 3 (27.3) | 8 (72.7) |
| Ask for transfer to another department | 6 (7.7) | 72 (92.3) | 4 (36.4) | 7 (63.6) |
| Asked to leave current position at this hospital | 6 (7.7) | 72 (92.3) | 3 (27.3) | 8 (72.7) |
| Reported to police | 17 (21.8) | 61 (78.2) | 3 (27.3) | 8 (72.7) |
| Took legal action against perpetrator | 10 (12.8) | 68 (87.2) | 4 (36.4) | 7 (63.6) |
Abbreviation: ED, emergency department.