Table 1 Characteristics of the workers assaulted, the aggressive acts and the aggressors

Workers assaulted (N = 364)

Sex

Female

(77.5)

Unknown

(0.8)

Age classes

< 30 years

(4.4)

30–39 years

(27.7)

40–49 years

(34.1)

> = 50 years

(32.0)

Unknown

(1.4)

Years worked

<=5 years

(8.5)

6–15 years

(48.6)

16–25 years

(20.1)

> 25 years

(21.4)

Unknown

(1.4)

Profession

Nurse

(64.3)

Medical doctor

(6.3)

Non-medical support staff

(14.4)

Midwife

(10.7)

Administrative staff

(3.8)

Unknown

(0.5)

Activity type during aggressive acts

Support activity for patients

(33.8)

Professional team’s back-office activity

(19.2)

Assistance and patient care

(38.2)

Unknown

(8.8)

Time of aggressive acts

Morning

(32.7)

Afternoon

(35.4)

Evening

(20.1)

Night

(11.8)

Season of aggressive acts

Jan-Mar

(22.2)

Apr-Jun

(32.4)

Jul-Sep

(25.3)

Oct-Dec

(20.1)

Location of aggressive acts

Location in the presence of patients

(47.3)

Communal location

(34.3)

Other activity location

(18.4)

Consequences for victims of aggression

Medical and psychological treatment

(11.3)

Working interruption

(55.8)

None

(33)

Verbal

Insult and offense

(49.8)

Threat

(27.1)

Non-verbal

Violent physical gesture, such as a slap or a shove

(14.1)

Launch of objects

(6.9)

Use of weapons or blunt instruments

(2.1)

Types of aggressors (N = 400)

Patients

(46.7)

Relatives

(42.3)

Caregivers

(8)

Colleagues

(3)