Proportion of Pupils Likely to Be Victims of Bullying Consulting a General Practitioner. Research Protocol

Context. A pupil is a victim of bullying "when he or she is repeatedly and over the long term exposed to negative actions in a context of power imbalance between the victim and the aggressors" (Olweus). Worldwide, the proportion of pupils affected by bullying is estimated between 9% and 30%. It exposes the victim to many psychiatric and social complications. There are currently no data available on the proportion of pupils likely to be victims of bullying in France, nor any recommendations for screening in general practice. Aim. To measure the prevalence of pupils aged 8 to 17 at risk of bullying in general practices in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. Planning. Prospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional quantitative study. A literature review was carried out to assess the current state of knowledge on screening for bullying in primary care. Various experts were consulted to develop the study protocol, which was submitted to the Comite de protection des personnes for inclusion. Implementation. This collaborative process resulted in the drafting of a protocol which was approved by the Comite de protection des personnes Sud-Est (South -East France Committee for the Protection of Individuals). Expected impact and perspectives. In the absence of epidemiological data, it is essential to carry out an exploratory study on the proportion of pupils likely to be victims of school bullying consulting a general practitioner. The results of this study will open up the possibility of larger -scale studies, including intervention studies that could lead to the introduction of screening for school bullying in primary care.