The aim of the study is to explore the experiences of pre-hospital emergency health workers in dealing with aggressive patients and to provide recommendations for best practices.
The study was conducted using qualitative methods. Semi-structured interviews and focus group interview techniques were employed. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 participants selected through purposive sampling, and two focus group interviews were held with 12 expert participants. The interviews were conducted online, recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis with the MAXQDA20 program.
Recommendations for enhancing skills in managing aggressive patients include improving collaboration between pre-hospital emergency health teams, emergency call center staff and law enforcement; resolving issues faced by emergency health teams in distancing themselves from the scene in risky situations; establishing warning systems for dangerous areas and patients with a history of aggression; employing verbal de-escalation strategies more effectively; addressing existing legal issues and diversifying training programs.
There is a need for more systematic questioning tools that emergency call center staff can use to preemptively identify cases at risk of aggression. Policies and procedures regarding distancing from the scene and patient restraint should be defined more clearly and explicitly.
