title: Comparison of the level of aggression towards healthcare workers within Podlaskie Voivodeship.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to estimate the level of exposure and average intensity of aggression towards particular professional groups of healthcare workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants (n = 1498) were employed at open and closed healthcare units within Podlaskie Voivodeship: 493 nurses, 504 midwives and 501 physicians. The MDM Questionnaire was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aggression originating from patients was experienced by 92% of nurses, 86% of doctors, and 74% of midwives examined. Aggressive behavior of co-working physicians concerned 55% of midwives, 54% of nurses and 40% of physicians. The highest average levels of patient aggression, ranging between 2.20 and 3.31, were reported by nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses are the group most exposed to most aggression forms and sources. Physicians are least exposed to aggression, except for aggression manifested by patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Medical University of Białystok, Poland. kkowalczuk@op.pl
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kowalczuk
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jankowiak
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krajewska-Kułak
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Damme-Ostapowicz
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kowalewska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011044:Poland; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*