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Korean J Med Educ. 2004 Dec;16(3):299-308.
Published online 2004 December 31. doi: 10.3946/kjme.2004.16.3.299.
Copyright © 2004 The Korean Society of Medical Education
The Status of Violence among the Doctors and Its Relationship to Authoritarianism, Aggression and Personality Characteristics
Ki-Young Lim, MD, Sun-Mi Cho, PhD and Ho-Jeong Song, MA
Department of Psychiatry, Ajou University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Corresponding author (Email: kylim@ajou.ac.kr )
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to inquire about the present status of violence among doctors. It also examined the relationship between the violent act and authoritarianism, aggression and the offenders personality characteristics.
Methods
93 doctors (22 professors, 33 residents, and 33 medical students) participated through survey questionnaires and standardized scales including Eysenck Type A Questionnaire, Barratt Impulsivity Scale, Korean Version Authoritarianism Scale, and Aggression Questionnaire.
Results
51.6% of the subjects experienced abusive words from other doctors and 11.8% experienced physical violence. 18.3% of the subjects inflicted abusive words on other physicians. Most of the offenders were superiors of the victims. Offenders experienced abusive words from other doctors significantly more than non-offenders. Among the respondents, residents showed a higher score in the Aggression Questionnaire. There was no difference between the offenders and the victims on authoritarianism, aggression and personality scales.
Conclusion
Verbal and physical violence among doctors is common. Almost all offenders were superiors of the victims and there was no official system set up to prevent or manage violence among doctors. A campaign to rid of violence in the medical field is strongly needed. |