title: Percentage prevalence of patient and visitor violence against staff in high-risk UK medical wards.
abstract: Patient and visitor violence adversely affects staff and organisations; however, there are few UK data about patient and visitor violence on medical wards. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study using a validated tool (Survey of Violence Experienced by Staff) in six medical wards in three North Wales district general hospitals to assess the prevalence of violence against healthcare staff. A total of 158 staff responded (12 men, 144 women, two not stated). We found that, within the previous 4 weeks, 83% of staff had experienced verbal aggression, 50% had been threatened and 63% had been physically assaulted. Of those assaulted, 56% sustained an injury, with three requiring medical assessment or treatment. Length of experience in the workplace correlated negatively with verbal abuse, but not with threats or assaults. Direct patient contact positively correlated with more overall incidents. There was no correlation between training in aggression management and the experience of incidents. Healthcare support workers and nurses reported a higher prevalence of patient and visitor violence compared with other groups of health worker.
authors.affiliation: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, North Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lepping
authors.forename: Srinivas Vn
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lanka
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Stephen Ers
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Stanaway
authors.forename: Murali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Patient and visitor violence; general hospital; medical wards; percentage prevalence; violence and aggression