The role of organizational culture in normalizing paramedic exposure to violence
Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research
ISSN: 1759-6599
Article publication date: 7 December 2021
Issue publication date: 5 April 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Violence against paramedics is a complex – but underreported – problem. Extant research suggests organizational culture may play a role in sustaining cultural norms that downplay the significance and limit reporting. The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively explore paramedics’ experience with violence, with particular emphasis on understanding how organizational culture contributes to under-reporting.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors surveyed paramedics from a single, large, urban service in Ontario, Canada, asking participants to describe their experiences with violence, including whether – and why or why not – the incidents were reported. Within a constructivist epistemology, we used inductive thematic analysis with successive rounds of coding to identify and then define features of organizational culture that limit reporting.
Findings
A total of 196 (33% of eligible) paramedics completed the survey. Fully 98% of participants disclosed having experienced some form of violence; however, only a minority (40%) reported the incidents to management, or the police (21%). The authors defined a framework within which a lack of support from management, and consequences for offenders, implicitly positions the ability of paramedics to “brush off” violent encounters as an expected professional competency. Disclosing emotional or psychological distress in response to violent encounters invited questions as to whether the individual is personally suited to paramedic work.
Originality/value
While the extant research has indicated that underreporting is a problem, the findings shed light on why – a critical first step in addressing what has been described as a serious public health problem.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors express their gratitude and appreciation to the paramedic leadership team and the External Violence Against Paramedics (EVAP) working group for supporting this project and to the paramedics for sharing their experiences. This manuscript contains information made available under agreement with The Regional Municipality of Peel; use does not imply endorsement. Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Citation
Mausz, J., Johnston, M. and Donnelly, E.A. (2022), "The role of organizational culture in normalizing paramedic exposure to violence", Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp. 112-122. https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-06-2021-0607
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited