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Violence in community pharmacy in Australia: incidence and implications
Citation
Peterson, GM and Tan, SI and Jackson, SL and Naunton, M, Violence in community pharmacy in Australia: incidence and implications, International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, 33, (2) pp. 264-272. ISSN 2210-7703 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.com
Official URL: http://www.springerlink.com
DOI: doi:10.1007/s11096-011-9492-3
Abstract
Objective To estimate the frequency, nature
and impact of violent incidents in Australian community
pharmacies. Setting A sample of Australian community
pharmacists. Method A survey of Australian pharmacists
sought to estimate the frequency of exposure to an array of
violent incidents in the preceding 12 months. The sample
population was drawn from all pharmacists currently registered
in Australia, with a proportionate number from each
state and territory surveyed. The selected pharmacists were
sent a letter of explanation, the questionnaire and the replypaid
envelope. The questionnaire was developed specifically
for this study with extensive testing among a small
number of community pharmacists. Main outcome measure
Frequency of violent incidents experienced in the
12 months prior to the survey. Results Surveys were mailed
to 1000 randomly selected pharmacists registered in Australia
in 2007. In total, 248 eligible replies were received
resulting in a usable response rate of 25%. The majority of
respondents (91%) had experienced or witnessed some
form of violence in community pharmacy within the preceding
12 months. Of all respondents, approximately onethird
(33%) had been subjected to verbal abuse on at least a
once-monthly basis. One-fifth of all respondents
experienced or witnessed incidents of bullying/intimidation
at least monthly, while one-tenth of all respondents had
been exposed to sexual harassment/assault at least oncemonthly.
The impact of violent incidents was significant,
with approximately one in ten respondents who had
experienced violent incidents having changed employment
as a direct result of these violent incidents; the majority of
these pharmacists changed to a different community
pharmacy (95%). A large proportion of respondents
claimed that they either ‘sometimes’ or ‘never’ reported
violent incidents. Over half of all respondents claimed that
they received no post-incident support regardless of the
type of violence experienced. Conclusion Recognising the
likelihood of selection bias in responding to the survey, the
results nevertheless indicate that violence appears a real
and common problem in Australian community pharmacies.
The under-utilisation of violence preventative strategies,
the lack of violence management by employers,
under-reporting of violence and the lack of post-violence
support need to be addressed.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Australia Community pharmacy |
Research Division: | Biomedical and Clinical Sciences |
Research Group: | Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences |
Research Field: | Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Evaluation of health and support services |
Objective Field: | Evaluation of health and support services not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Peterson, GM (Professor Gregory Peterson) |
UTAS Author: | Tan, SI (Mr Sean Im Tan) |
UTAS Author: | Jackson, SL (Dr Shane Jackson) |
ID Code: | 68896 |
Year Published: | 2011 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 4 |
Deposited By: | Pharmacy |
Deposited On: | 2011-03-30 |
Last Modified: | 2014-12-13 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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