THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAINING PACK ON THE MANAGEMENT OF AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE IN PRIMARY-CARE

The objective of this study was to develop an appropriate model of tra ining for primary health care team members in the management of aggres sion and violence at work. A qualitative analysis of the videotaped in terviews of primary health care team members was used to develop the c ontent of a teaching package. The subjects comprised 44 interviewees w orking in primary care in 2 districts within the largest health region of the United Kingdom. The main outcome measures were the themes iden tified from the modified content analysis of interviews. Violence was perceived as occurring principally in connection with unmet demands fo r such things as prescriptions and referrals. Predisposing factors for aggression and violence include drink and drugs. Only patients are pe rceived as violent: health care workers use other terms to describe th eir feelings and responses. Staff have had little opportunity to train for the management of violence at work. What little tuition occurred was during basic training. It is important to identify the extent of a ggression and violence in individual practices. However, such explorat ion will identify staff needs in terms of reducing the risks of aggres sive events or responding to the consequence of episodes suffered. Qua litative examination of videotaped interviews in this way has facilita ted the assessment of training needs in primary care. A tailored educa tional programme has been developed to respond to these needs. (C) 199 7 Elsevier Science Ltd.