Workplace violence prevention programs in hospital emergency departments.
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.
Peek-Asa
Corinne
C
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. corinne-peek-asa@uiowa.edu
Casteel
Carri
C
Allareddy
Veerasathpurush
V
Nocera
MaryAlice
M
Goldmacher
Suzi
S
OHagan
Emily
E
Blando
James
J
Valiante
David
D
Gillen
Marion
M
Harrison
Robert
R
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