title: Violence in healthcare facilities: lessons from the Veterans Health Administration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors examined assault frequency and risk factors in health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey in 142 hospitals. Analyses are presented at the level of the individual and aggregated by facility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen percent of employees described at least 1 assault in the last year; the proportion assaulted per facility ranged from 1% to 26%. Patients were the most common assaulters. Working in geriatrics, mental health, and rehabilitation or in nursing represented a high risk for assault. Hours of work and work patterns represented major risk factors for assault, as were higher measures of organizational stress. The penetration of training in alternate dispute resolution strategies was associated with lower rates of assaults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although work in health care is associated with high rates of assaults, closer scrutiny suggests specific possible intervention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Program, Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, Veterans Health Administration, USA. muh7@mail.va.gov
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belton
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*