Citation

Arnetz JE, Hamblin LE, Russell J, Upfal MJ, Luborsky M, Janisse J, Essenmacher L. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2017; 59(1): 18-27.

Affiliation

Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (Dr Arnetz); Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden (Dr Arnetz); Departments of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences (Dr Arnetz, Ms Hamblin, Dr Janisse) and Psychology, Wayne State University (Ms Hamblin); Detroit Medical Center Occupational Health Services (Mr Russell, Dr Upfal, Ms Essenmacher); Department of Emergency Medicine (Dr Upfal); Institute of Gerontology (Dr Luborsky), Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; and Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet (Dr Luborsky), Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000000909

PMID

28045793

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a randomized controlled intervention on the incidence of patient-to-worker (Type II) violence and related injury in hospitals.

METHODS: Forty-one units across seven hospitals were randomized into intervention (n = 21) and control (n = 20) groups. Intervention units received unit-level violence data to facilitate development of an action plan for violence prevention; no data were presented to control units. Main outcomes were rates of violent events and injuries across study groups over time.

RESULTS: Six months post-intervention, incident rate ratios of violent events were significantly lower on intervention units compared with controls (incident rate ratio [IRR] 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29 to 0.80). At 24 months, the risk for violence-related injury was lower on intervention units, compared with controls (IRR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.83).

CONCLUSIONS: This data-driven, worksite-based intervention was effective in decreasing risks of patient-to-worker violence and related injury.

Language: en