Nearly two-thirds of Australian GP's and their staff say they've been the target of an aggressive or violent attack in the past 12 months.
Four doctors have been murdered at work in the past 12 years.
The ABC reports new research by the Australian National University has brought calls for greater safety measures to protect those working in general practice.
Associate Professor Rhian Parker says most encounters are verbal, but in some cases, they also involve physical violence.
Professor Parker told the PM programme that most incidents are sparked by one of two things:
People are waiting long periods to see a GP in the clinics or can't get an appointment quickly enough.
Changes in billing practices from bulk billing to non-bulk billing also often "bring out the worst in patients in terms of aggression" against practice staff.
Professor Parker will ask GPs and staff to complete an online survey in the next stage of her research, as she tries to collate a national picture of aggression in GP clinics.
