Medical receptionists facing a barrage of verbal and physical abuse dished out by angry patients are suffering long-term harm.

Frontline health workers frequently cop verbal abuse from patients, researchers from the University of Queensland have found.

"Patient aggression towards medical receptionists is so frequent it's become accepted as a normal workplace hazard," Fiona Willer from UQ's Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing said.

Researchers reviewed multiple studies across five countries, analysing aggression faced by receptionists in medical clinics and doctors' surgeries.

"Our findings show receptionists are frequently subjected to verbal abuse from patients such as shouting, swearing, accusatory language and racist and sexist insults," Dr Willer said.

The research, published in the journal Family Medicine and Community Health, found the ongoing abuse severely affected receptionists' health and wellbeing.

"They reported workplace stress, absenteeism, burnout, lasting psychological trauma and even physical harm," Dr Willer said.

"Only a small proportion received professional counselling, and unfortunately co-ordinated support for reception staff was generally lacking."

Researcher David Chua said medical receptionists were on the front line, often placing them in difficult situations.

"They are managing patients in a variety of emotional states and can become the target of their frustrations and aggression, often for things that are entirely out of their control," he said.

"Patient aggression causes lasting harm to the reception staff and can also affect other patients in the waiting room."

The research found some strategies appeared to help reduce aggressive patient behaviour, including staff training and reducing points of frustration for patients, like simplifying appointment scheduling.

It also found other methods, such as "zero tolerance" campaigns and visible safety measures like clear acrylic barriers and lockable doors at reception areas, were ineffective in deterring aggression.