[Patients in general practice who experienced violence or threats from someone they knew well].
BACKGROUND
Having been exposed to threats or violence often influences health. We explored the association between such experiences and sociodemographic data among patients in general practice.


METHODS
A questionnaire study was conducted. 89 doctors and their patients during one workday were the informants. The patients completed the questionnaire at home.


RESULTS
1,401 consultations were included; 1,217 (87%) patients responded. 14% of the patients said that they experienced violence or threats from someone they knew well, 2% were uncertain. 38% of adult patients in single-parent household had such experiences. The prevalence was also higher among patients with a difficult housing situation, in need of social welfare, who had been unemployed for more than six months, or assessed themselves as more than 50% permanently disabled. 6% of patients 60 years or older had experienced of violence or threats.


CONCLUSIONS
In general practice, patients with social problems or living in single-parent households more often have experience of violence or threats. Comparatively few elderly people report such experiences.
Gulbrandsen
P
P
Institutt for allmennmedisin og samfunnsmedisinske fag, Oslo. pal.gulbrandsen@legeforeningen.no
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D017579:Domestic Violence; D004552:Elder Abuse; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D015406:Single Parent / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence