High levels of abuse experienced by general practice staff, Study Finds,
24 Sep 2025
Violence and abuse against general practice staff is widespread in many countries, including Australia, according to a recent international study.
The research, a scoping review titled “Violence and abuse towards general practice staff by patients and the public”, was published in the British Journal of General Practice. It examined 50 studies from 24 countries, including nine from the UK and six from Australia. Rates of violence and abuse by patients over the past year ranged from 13.8% to 90.3%, while lifetime estimates varied between 18.3% and 91.0%.
The study found that long waiting times and unmet patient expectations were the most common triggers for abuse. Researchers noted that such incidents affect staff mental health, increase turnover intentions, and reduce service capacity.
The review is the first to focus specifically on patient violence in general practice. The authors highlighted that while violence in hospitals and other healthcare settings receives attention, abuse in primary care is less recognised, and research on prevention and support is limited.
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz said the findings were not surprising and reflected the experiences of many GPs across Australia. She emphasised that aggression in general practice is rising, yet protections and policies for private practice staff are limited.
“It is deeply concerning that some patients feel it is acceptable to respond with verbal or physical abuse when their expectations are not met,” Dr Muñoz said. “People working in general practice should be able to do their jobs without fear of abuse or assault.”
The study found that female staff, younger employees, and less experienced workers are most affected. Staff roles most often targeted included doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative staff, and receptionists. Previous research has highlighted medical receptionists as frequent victims of patient aggression.
The authors called for further research to explore definitions, risk factors, and staff and patient characteristics. They also recommended studies on violence in general practice post-COVID and as digital health services expand.
Dr Muñoz said more government-level action is needed. Currently, individual practices and GPs are responsible for managing abusive behaviour, which she said is insufficient. “We need policies, protections, and consequences in place to ensure staff safety,” she said.
A recent newsGP poll supports these findings, showing that almost four in five respondents reported patient aggression in their workplace, with only 21% saying they ‘hardly ever’ experienced it.
Source: British Journal of General Practice; RACGP Victoria, 2025
