title: Development and application of a population-based system for workplace violence surveillance in hospitals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A unique and comprehensive reporting and population-based violence surveillance system in a multi-site hospital system is presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence rates and rate ratios (RR) were calculated by year, hospital, violence type, and job category in six hospitals, 2003-2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidence rates per hospital for the 6-year period ranged from a low of 1.52 to a high of 10.89 incidents/100 full-time equivalents (FTEs), with the highest risk at a hospital with an outpatient mental health facility (RR = 7.16, 95%CI = 5.17-10.26). Rates for worker-on-worker violence exceeded rates for patient-to-worker violence from 2004 to 2008. Mental health technicians (RR = 13.82, 95%CI =  1.13-17.29) and security personnel (RR = 2.25, CI = 1.68-3.00) were at greatest risk for violence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This surveillance system provides ongoing information on professional groups and hospital departments at risk and trends in violence reporting over time. It can be used to determine where appropriate violence prevention efforts are most needed, and to evaluate violence interventions.
authors: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. jarnetz@med.wayne.edu
authors: Judith E
authors: JE
authors: Arnetz
authors: Deanna
authors: D
authors: Aranyos
authors: Joel
authors: J
authors: Ager
authors: Mark J
authors: MJ
authors: Upfal
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data