[Exposure of French emergency medical personnel to violence].
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the problem of violence in French EMS system and characterize assaults.


METHODS
Multicentric, descriptive, open study.


METHODS
A questionnaire was given to a sample of prehospital care providers in Paris area. People were asked about assaults during their careers, typology of the assaults and consequences. Results are presented in percentage and means.


RESULTS
Two hundred seventy-six questionnaires were returned. One or more assaults were recounted by 23% (61/271) of the sample (median of 8 +/- 7 years experience on the job). The injuries were bruises in 40% (17/43), wounds in 9% (4/43) and fractures in 2% (1/43). Only 4% of assaults were followed by sick leave, 15% by a complaint. After the assaults, 4% (2/45) reported having got therapy against post-traumatic stress disorder. Eighty-eight per cent reported verbal threat and 41% physical threat. Thirteen per cent (25/200) were threatened with a knife and 12% (23/200) with a gun. Only 9% (24/270) had a formal training for management of violence.


CONCLUSIONS
Formal training in the management of violent encounters and prevention of post-traumatic stress should be developed.
Duchateau
F X
FX
Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, Smur, hôpital Beaujon, 100, boulevard du Général Leclerc, 92110 Clichy, France. fxduchateau@wanadoo.fr
Bajolet-Laplante
M F
MF
Chollet
C
C
Ricard-Hibon
A
A
Marty
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology