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Paramedic Willingness to Report Violence Following the Introduction of a Novel, Point-of-Event Reporting Process in a Single Canadian Paramedic Service
Mausz, J.; Braaksma, M.-J.; Johnston, M.; Batt, A.M.; Donnelly, E.A. Paramedic Willingness to Report Violence Following the Introduction of a Novel, Point-of-Event Reporting Process in a Single Canadian Paramedic Service. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2024, 21, 363.
Mausz, J.; Braaksma, M.-J.; Johnston, M.; Batt, A.M.; Donnelly, E.A. Paramedic Willingness to Report Violence Following the Introduction of a Novel, Point-of-Event Reporting Process in a Single Canadian Paramedic Service. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 363.
Mausz, J.; Braaksma, M.-J.; Johnston, M.; Batt, A.M.; Donnelly, E.A. Paramedic Willingness to Report Violence Following the Introduction of a Novel, Point-of-Event Reporting Process in a Single Canadian Paramedic Service. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health2024, 21, 363.
Mausz, J.; Braaksma, M.-J.; Johnston, M.; Batt, A.M.; Donnelly, E.A. Paramedic Willingness to Report Violence Following the Introduction of a Novel, Point-of-Event Reporting Process in a Single Canadian Paramedic Service. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 363.
Abstract
Violence against paramedics is increasingly recognized as an important occupational health problem, but pervasive and institutionalized underreporting hinders efforts at risk mitigation. Earlier research has shown that the organizational culture within paramedicine may contribute to underreporting and researchers have recommended involving paramedics in the development of violence prevention policies, including reporting systems. Eighteen months after the launch of a new comprehensive violence reporting system in Peel Region, Ontario, Canada, we surveyed paramedics about their willingness to report violent encounters. A total of 204 (33% of eligible) paramedics chose to participate, of whom 67% (N=137) had experienced violence since the launch of the new reporting process, with 83% (N=114) reporting the incidents at least some of the time. In choosing to report, participants cited the accessibility of the new reporting process and the desire to promote accountability among perpetrators while contributing to a safer workplace as motivating factors. Their decisions to file a report, however, could be influenced by the perceived ‘volitionality’ and severity of the violent encounters, particularly in the context of (un)supportive co-workers and supervisors. Ultimately, the participants’ belief that the report would lead to meaningful change within the service was a key driver of reporting behavior.
Keywords
Paramedics; Emergency Medical Services; Emergency Medical Technicians; Violence; Workplace Violence; Qualitative Research; Survey Research; Mixed Methods Research
Subject
Public Health and Healthcare, Health Policy and Services
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
