Assaults against general practitioners in Ireland.
OBJECTIVE
Violence directed at general practitioners (GPs) is on the increase in urban areas of Ireland. However, little information has been available on the incidence, effects, or precipitants of this violence. This study documents the frequency of the problem in Ireland's capital city, Dublin.


METHODS
A survey was sent to all 634 GPs in the Eastern Health Board region of Ireland. The survey asked each GP to report an incident of violence or aggression using standardized definitions and reporting forms. The survey also requested that participants provide information on their practice and its staff and setting.


RESULTS
We collected information from 622 of 634 doctors (98%). The overall incidence of violence or aggression in the sample was 21%. Of the 131 incidents reported, only 7% resulted in injury to the doctor; the remainder all involved verbal abuse and/or threats. The most frequent assailant characteristics identified were alcohol or opiate abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
Violence and aggression against GPs are common. Several interventions are discussed.
O'Connell
P
P
Department of General Practice, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Bury
G
G
D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010507:Periodicity; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D014754:Violence / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*