Risk factors for work-related assaults on nurses.
BACKGROUND
Work-related homicides have been the subject of considerable study, but little is known about nonfatal violence and relevant risk factors.


METHODS
We surveyed 6300 Minnesota nurses who were selected randomly from the 1998 licensing database and determined their employment and occupational violence experience. In a nested case-control study, we examined environmental exposures and physical assault. Cases of assault in the previous 12 months and controls randomly selected from assault-free months were surveyed about prior-month exposures.


RESULTS
After adjustment by multiple logistic regression, incidence of physical assault was 13.2 per 100 persons per year (95% confidence interval = 12.2-14.3). Among 310 cases and 946 control subjects, odds ratios for assault were increased: in nursing homes or long-term care facilities (2.6; 1.9-3.6), emergency departments (4.2; 1.3-12.8), and psychiatric departments (2.0; 1.1-3.7); in environments not "bright as daylight" (2.2; 1.6-2.8); and for each additional hour of shift duration (1.05; 0.99-1.11). Risks were decreased when carrying cellular telephones or personal alarms (0.3; 0.2-0.7).


CONCLUSIONS
These results may guide in-depth investigation of ways protective and risk factors can control violence against nurses.
Gerberich
Susan Goodwin
SG
Regional Injury Prevention Research Center and Center for Violence Prevention and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. gerbe001@umn.edu
Church
Timothy R
TR
McGovern
Patricia M
PM
Hansen
Helen
H
Nachreiner
Nancy M
NM
Geisser
Mindy S
MS
Ryan
Andrew D
AD
Mongin
Steven J
SJ
Watt
Gavin D
GD
Jurek
Anne
A
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace