Factors influencing the intention of family members of patients admitted to emergency departments to commit violence against health care professionals: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Information regarding the factors influencing the intention of family members of patients admitted to the emergency department to commit violence against health care professionals is limited. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the intention of family members of patients admitted to the emergency department to commit violence against health care professionals. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study, conducted in 3 Turkish hospitals from December 2023 to May 2024, involved 872 family members of emergency department patients. Ethical approval was obtained (approval no: 2023/83). Data were collected through face-to-face surveys using the Intention to Commit Violence Against Healthcare Workers Scale and the Healthcare Access Experience Form. Analysis was performed with SPSS 22.0 using both parametric and nonparametric tests, with significance set at P<.05. Results: The participants' average age was 35.60 SD = 10.89, with 56.8% male and 61.5% having completed secondary education. Significant factors increasing the intention to commit violence included younger age (P = .001), lower education (P = .001), unemployment (P = .001), and being single (P = .001). Although the overall intention to commit violence was low, negative perceptions regarding health care access, such as lack of information about their relative's condition (P = .001), inability to see their relative during treatment (P = .001), and exclusion from care (P = .001), significantly heightened this intention. Discussion: This study reveals that the strongest factors influencing the intention to commit violence among family members of patients admitted to the emergency department are the lack of information about their relative and inadequate communication.