Application of the Chappell and Di Martino Model of Violence at Work to Hospitalized Users

Abstract

Violence is a phenomenon that affects human beings in different circumstances and surroundings, influencing health, the social and economic development of population groups, and health-care institutions. Method: A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional, quantitative study was done to validate the factors of the Chappell and Di Martino model in hospitalized users, to measure the violence they perceive as being directed towards them, and to construct a scale for measuring violence in the hospital context. It featured a non-probability sample comprised of 510 hospital users in 2008, who gave prior informed consent to application of the instrument, which was designed and validated by the authors. In terms of the results, application of the violence perception scale showed 100% of the users indicated having perceived violence in various dimensions. The significant variables in violence perception were age, gender, sensation, job situation, family income, quality of care, history of violence in adulthood, alcohol consumption, aggressor agent, and human and fiscal resources. It was concluded Chappell and Di Martino’s interactive model of violence at work is applicable to users in hospital environments, since the variables that comprise the factors also are found in these health-care contexts.