title: Retrospective review of trends in assaults and seclusion at an acute psychiatric ward over a 5-year period.
abstract: In developing countries such as South Africa, not much is known about the prevalence of assaults and seclusion occurring in mental health wards over time. Here, we describe a 5-year trend in assaults and seclusions, stratified by gender, at Stikland Hospital, South Africa. A retrospective review of clinical records of patients admitted to the acute psychiatric admission wards at Stikland and involved in assault and secluded was undertaken between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2010. Data on the number of patient and staff assaults as well as seclusions, gender, age, marital status, level of education, level of income, duration of hospital admission and primary psychiatric diagnosis were collected. Significantly (P < 0.01) more men than women engaged in patient assaults, while significantly (P < 0.01) more men were secluded than women. On a monthly basis, the number of gender-stratified patient assaults and seclusions significantly increased (P < 0.01) throughout the study period. In conclusion, we show here that gender had a significant effect on both patient assault and seclusion numbers, which increased towards the end of the study period. Monitoring of these events is therefore important to continuously improve quality of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch and Stikland Hospital, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luckhoff
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jordaan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cloete
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koen
authors.forename: D J H
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Niehaus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult