Perceptions of Workplace Violence and its Underreporting among Prehospital Emergency Care Personnel in Johannesburg, South Africa

Background Prehospital emergency care personnel (PECP) are tasked with providing emergency care to injured and ill patients in environments that are unpredictable and carry several risks to both caregivers and patients. One of those inherent risks is workplace violence (WPV) against the caregiver. Workplace violence against the PECP is on the rise and has been shown to impact the PECP and the care that it provides. In our study, we investigated and described WPV against PECP within Johannesburg, South Africa. Methods This study followed a qualitative descriptive design in which face-to-face, semistructured interviews were employed to gather data. The participants involved were registered with the Health Professions’ Council of South Africa and were working in Johannesburg, South Africa, as PECP. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. The thematic analysis was used to identify themes, patterns, and insights. Data saturation was reached after nine interviews. Results A total of nine participants participated in the study. Among the nine participants, five (56%) were female, and four (44%) were male. Seven participants (78%) were from the private sector, and two (22%) were from the public sector. The participants identified substance abuse, the location of the scene, and the relationship between the PECP and managers as contributors to WPV. The reporting of WPV was generally poor and was attributed to victimization and incidents not being addressed correctly. A lack of preparedness and training on WPV incidents also emerged from the participants. Conclusion PECP in Johannesburg continues to experience and be affected by WPV. Drivers of WPV were heavily influenced by the broader social dynamics of South Africa. Despite experiencing high amounts of WPV, participants faced various challenges with the reporting of WPV, which hindered addressing WPV. Targeted interventions are urgently needed to improve reporting practices and training and foster a culture of accountability and safety within the prehospital environment.