title: Experience of workplace violence during medical speciality training in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the type, extent and effects of workplace violence among residents during postgraduate speciality training in various departments of medical schools in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted in seven medical schools representing all geographical regions of Turkey. All physicians in speciality training in the selected medical schools were asked to complete a semi-structured 'violence questionnaire' addressing the type (emotional, physical and sexual) and extent of violence experienced, the perpetrators of the violence and the victim's reactions to the experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1712 residents out of 2442 completed the questionnaire. In all, 68% indicated they had experienced some form of workplace violence, 67% had experienced verbal violence, 16% had experienced physical violence and 3% had experienced sexual violence. The victims' most prevalent reactions to violence included being deeply disturbed but feeling they had to cope with it for the sake of their career (39%), being distressed (26%) but considering that such events are common in all occupations and discounting it and being confused and bewildered and unsure how to respond (19%). The most frequently named perpetrators of verbal violence were relatives/friends of patients (36%) and academic staff (36%), followed by other residents/senior residents (21%), patients (20%), heads of department (13%) and non-medical hospital staff (6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians in speciality training in medical schools in Turkey are subject to significant verbal, physical or sexual violence. Precautions to prevent such exposure are urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Firat University Medical Faculty, Elazig, Turkey. yacik@firat.edu.tr
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Acik
authors.forename: S Erhan
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Deveci
authors.forename: Gulsen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gulbayrak
authors.forename: Sennur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dabak
authors.forename: Gunay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saka
authors.forename: Gulsen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.forename: Gunay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: Nursel Gamsiz
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Bilgin
authors.forename: Pinar Erbay
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Dundar
authors.forename: Toker
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erguder
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tokdemir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data