@article{ref1,
title="Hospital youth workers for violence reduction",
journal="Archives of disease in childhood",
year="2020",
author="Jacob, Hannah and Travers, Charles and Hann, Gayle",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Youth workers (YWs) can engage young people following hospital attendances with violence-related injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of YWs in an urban district hospital and to explore the views of the young people engaged. <br><br>METHODS: Everyone referred to the hospital YWs during the 31-month study period was included and demographic data were collected. Those who engaged completed emotional disturbance, risk of criminality and feedback questionnaires. <br><br>RESULTS: There were 496 young people referred during the study period with a mean age of 14. 9 years (range 7-26). Of these, 85 (17%) engaged with YWs and 15/85 (18%) completed the programme. Most (14/15, 93%) showed reduced or no change in their criminality and emotional disturbance scores. Young people liked having credible, accessible mentors and learning effective coping strategies. <br><br>DISCUSSION: YWs based in a district hospital's emergency department can work effectively with vulnerable young people, and this is well received by young people.<br><br>© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0003-9888",
doi="10.1136/archdischild-2020-318917",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2020-318917"
}