title: Workplace violence prevention policies in home health and hospice care agencies.
abstract: Workplace violence in the home health industry is a growing concern, but little is known about the content of existing workplace violence prevention programs. The authors present the methods for this study that examined workplace violence prevention programs in a sample of 40 California home health and hospice agencies. Data was collected through surveys that were completed by the branch managers of participating facilities. Programs were scored in six different areas, including general workplace violence prevention components; management commitment and employee involvement; worksite analysis; hazard prevention and control; safety and health training; and recordkeeping and program evaluation. The results and discussion sections consider these six areas and the important gaps that were found in existing programs. For example, although most agencies offered workplace violence training, not every worker performing patient care was required to receive the training. Similarly, not all programs were written or reviewed and updated regularly. Few program differences were observed between agency characteristics, but nonetheless several striking gaps were found.
authors: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, IA, USA. nathan-gross@uiowa.edu
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Gross
authors: Corinne
authors: C
authors: Peek-Asa
authors: Maryalice
authors: M
authors: Nocera
authors: Carri
authors: C
authors: Casteel
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D018574:Home Care Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D006738:Hospices / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation; D064450:Workplace Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*