2025/10/09 by M. Haug, Elisabeth Haug, Roger Almvik +2 · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Workplace Violence and Bullying #Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment #Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1186/s13049-025-01472-6
openalex publication_date 2025/10/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
INTRODUCTION: Ambulance personnel frequently encounter aggression in dynamic and unpredictable environments. Despite growing awareness of workplace violence in healthcare, few validated tools exist for systematic documentation in ambulance services. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to adapt and validate the Staff Observation Aggression Scale - Revised (SOAS-R) for use in ambulance services (SOAS-RA), and to examine the relationship between SOAS-RA severity scores and staff's subjective perceptions of incident severity using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). METHODS: Using a modified Delphi method, a panel of ambulance professionals adapted the SOAS-R to the ambulance service context. Data were collected from 34 ambulance stations across Norway using paper-based SOAS-RA forms. A total of 402 reports were submitted, with 302 including valid VAS scores. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses examined associations between objective severity scores (SOAS-RA) and subjective ratings (VAS). RESULTS: SOAS-RA total scores showed a small to moderate correlation with VAS ratings (r = 0.350, p < 0.001). The strongest predictor of perceived severity was "consequences for the victim" (β = 0.274, p < 0.001), followed by "means used by the aggressor" (β = 0.180, p < 0.001). Female staff rated incidents as more severe than male staff (p = 0.030), despite similar SOAS-RA scores. CONCLUSIONS: The SOAS-RA, combined with VAS, may serve as a valid, context-sensitive tool for documenting aggression in ambulance services. Future research should explore broader implementation and digital integration to enhance usability, data quality, and support organizational learning.