Medical consequences of violence: a two-year prospective study from a primary care accident and emergency department in Norway

Objective - To assess the medical consequences of violence from the perspective of a primary care accident and emergency department. Design - Prospective observational study. Setting - Bergen Legevakt (AED). Subjects - All assault victims treated at the AED 1994-96. Main outcome measures - Diagnoses, treatments, number of consultations at the AED, sickness certificates, rates of admittances to hospitals, referrals to specialists and injury severity ratings using Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Shepherd's injury severity scale. Results - 1803 assault victims were registered, 433 (24%) females and 1370 (76%) males. Most injuries were of slight severity, corresponding to AIS 0 to 1 (82%) or Shepherd's scale 0 to 1 (74%). Bruises/contusions and cuts/lacerations dominated. The majority of patients did not receive any specific treatment at the AED and they were not given sickness certificates, but 11% were admitted to hospitals and 30% were referred to specialists. Males were more likely to be seriously injured than females. Conclusion - Most physical injuries caused by violence and treated at a primary care accident and emergency department are minor.