Rural general practitioner apprehension about work related violence in australia.
OBJECTIVE
To identify levels of Australian rural general practitioners' apprehension about violence, factors effecting apprehension and the effect of apprehension on service provision.


METHODS
Six focus groups were held with rural GPs from Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. A questionnaire was developed on the basis of the focus group data and all GPs in these three areas were surveyed.


RESULTS
The results indicated GPs were more apprehensive about providing after hours care than during business hours. Significant gender differences were found with women being more often apprehensive than men and more likely to withdraw after hours services.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that that levels of apprehension about violence affect GPs' willingness to provide after hours services. Future provision of general practice after hours services and home visits in rural areas requires the availability of a safe working environment to reduce GPs' apprehension about workplace violence.
Tolhurst
Helen
H
Discipline of General Practice, School of Medical Practice and Population Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
Talbot
Jane
J
Baker
Louise
L
Bell
Pam
P
Murray
Gillian
G
Sutton
Amber
A
Dean
Sarah
S
Treloar
Carla
C
Harris
Gillian
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012637:Security Measures / Q000458:organization & administration; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data