title: Workplace violence prevention programs in hospital emergency departments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hospital violence is a growing concern, yet little is known about existing programs. This study compared workplace violence programs in high-risk emergency departments among a representative sample of 116 hospitals in California and 50 hospitals in New Jersey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information was collected through interviews, a facility walk-through, and review of written policies, procedures, and training material. Programs were scored on the components of training, policies and procedures, security, and environmental approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  California had significantly higher scores for training and policies and procedures, but there was no difference for security and environmental approaches. Program component scores were not highly correlated. For example, hospitals with a strong training program were not more likely to have strong policies and procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most hospitals in California and New Jersey had implemented a workplace violence prevention program, but important gaps were found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. corinne-peek-asa@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peek-Asa
authors.forename: Carri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casteel
authors.forename: Veerasathpurush
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Allareddy
authors.forename: MaryAlice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nocera
authors.forename: Suzi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldmacher
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: OHagan
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blando
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valiante
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gillen
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009515:New Jersey; D016730:Program Development; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017132:Workplace