Violence in healthcare facilities: lessons from the Veterans Health Administration.
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.
Hodgson
Michael J
MJ
Occupational Health Program, Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, Veterans Health Administration, USA. muh7@mail.va.gov
Reed
Richard
R
Craig
Thomas
T
Murphy
Frances
F
Lehmann
Larry
L
Belton
Linda
L
Warren
Nick
N
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*