How to engage small retail businesses in workplace violence prevention: Perspectives from small businesses and influential organizations.
BACKGROUND
Small retail businesses experience high robbery and violent crime rates leading to injury and death. Workplace violence prevention programs (WVPP) based on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design reduce this risk, but low small business participation limits their effectiveness. Recent dissemination models of occupational safety and health information recommend collaborating with an intermediary organization to engage small businesses.


METHODS
Qualitative interviews with 70 small business operators and 32 representatives of organizations with small business influence were conducted to identify factors and recommendations for improving dissemination of a WVPP.


RESULTS
Both study groups recommended promoting WVPPs through personal contacts but differed on other promotion methods and the type of influential groups to target. Small business operators indicated few connections to formal business networks.


CONCLUSIONS
Dissemination of WVPPs to small businesses may require models inclusive of influential individuals (e.g., respected business owners) as intermediaries to reach small businesses with few formal connections.
University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center, Iowa city, Iowa.
Rebecca A
RA
Bruening
RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Karen
K
Strazza
University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Maryalice
M
Nocera
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa city, Iowa.
Corinne
C
Peek-Asa
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa city, Iowa.
Carri
C
Casteel
D019058:Community Networks; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D058012:Small Business / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D013800:Theft / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D064450:Workplace Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*
information dissemination; intervention model; occupational safety; prevention; qualitative research; small business; workplace violence