Violence in Emergency Medicine - Current Situation in Germany

Background During the last years healthcare personnel is more often faced with different degrees of violence and aggression while doing their jobs. However, systematic data with respect to offender profiles, reasons, frequency and types of violence in emergency medicine in Germany has not been systematically analyzed. Aim The aim of this article is to overview the data of present German studies. Results Only a few German studies could be included. Data suggest that violence in emergency medicine is an underreported but ubiquitous, persistent problem. 90% of the participants in the surveyed rescue staff and 75% of the participants in the surveyed emergency departments had experienced occasional verbal or physical violence within the last months before survey started. Most participants felt poorly prepared to react on aggressive situations. There is a need for appropriate training in de-escalation skills and self defence. Moreover a constant presence of security services was demanded to reduce violence in emergency departments. © Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart - New York.