article Closed Access EN 2015-06-15

Physical assault, physical threat, and verbal abuse perpetrated against hospital workers by patients or visitors in six U.S. hospitals

Lisa Pompeii, Ashley L. Schoenfisch, Hester J. Lipscomb, John M. Dement, Claudia DiSabatino Smith, Mudita Upadhyaya

American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Vol. 58, Issue 11, pp. 1194–1204 (2015)

Texas Medical Center, Duke University, Duke Medical Center, St. Luke's Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital

DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22489 PMID: 26076187

Abstract

BACKGROUND: An elevated risk of patient/visitor perpetrated violence (type II) against hospital nurses and physicians have been reported, while little is known about type II violence among other hospital workers, and circumstances surrounding these events. METHODS: Hospital workers (n = 11,000) in different geographic areas were invited to participate in an anonymous survey. RESULTS: Twelve-month prevalence of type II violence was 39%; 2,098 of 5,385 workers experienced 1,180 physical assaults, 2,260 physical threats, and 5,576 incidents of verbal abuse. Direct care providers were at significant risk, as well as some workers that do not provide direct care. Perpetrator circumstances attributed to violent events included altered mental status, behavioral issues, pain/medication withdrawal, dissatisfaction with care. Fear for safety was common among worker victims (38%). Only 19% of events were reported into official reporting systems. CONCLUSIONS: This pervasive occupational safety issue is of great concern and likely extends to patients for whom these workers care for.

Topics

Workplace Violence and Bullying 0.98 Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout 0.00 Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies 0.00

Field: Social Sciences · Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Keywords

Medicine,Verbal abuse,Occupational safety and health,Physical abuse,Suicide prevention,Injury prevention,Psychiatry,Workplace violence,Poison control,Human factors and ergonomics

MeSH Terms

Physical AbusePhysical AbusePhysical AbuseAdolescentAdolescentAdolescentAdultAdult

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Peace, Justice and strong institutions (0.53)

All Available Versions

Landing page — American Journal of Industrial Medicine publishedVersion
Landing page — PubMed publishedVersion

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APA

Lisa Pompeii, Ashley L. Schoenfisch, Hester J. Lipscomb, John M. Dement, Claudia DiSabatino Smith, Mudita Upadhyaya (2015). Physical assault, physical threat, and verbal abuse perpetrated against hospital workers by patients or visitors in six U.S. hospitals. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 58(11), 1194–1204. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22489

MLA

Lisa Pompeii, et al. "Physical assault, physical threat, and verbal abuse perpetrated against hospital workers by patients or visitors in six U.S. hospitals." American Journal of Industrial Medicine, vol. 58, no. 11, 2015, pp. 1194–1204. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22489

Chicago

Lisa Pompeii, Ashley L. Schoenfisch, Hester J. Lipscomb, John M. Dement, Claudia DiSabatino Smith, Mudita Upadhyaya. "Physical assault, physical threat, and verbal abuse perpetrated against hospital workers by patients or visitors in six U.S. hospitals." American Journal of Industrial Medicine 58, no. 11 (2015): 1194–1204. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22489

BibTeX

@article{pompeii2015,
  title = { Physical assault, physical threat, and verbal abuse perpetrated against hospital workers by patients or visitors in six U.S. hospitals },
  author = { Lisa Pompeii and Ashley L. Schoenfisch and Hester J. Lipscomb and John M. Dement and Claudia DiSabatino Smith and Mudita Upadhyaya },
  journal = { American Journal of Industrial Medicine },
  year = { 2015 },
  volume = { 58 },
  number = { 11 },
  pages = { 1194--1204 },
  doi = { 10.1002/ajim.22489 }
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Physical assault, physical threat, and verbal abuse perpetrated against hospital workers by patients or visitors in six U.S. hospitals
AU  - Lisa Pompeii
AU  - Ashley L. Schoenfisch
AU  - Hester J. Lipscomb
AU  - John M. Dement
AU  - Claudia DiSabatino Smith
AU  - Mudita Upadhyaya
JO  - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
PY  - 2015
VL  - 58
IS  - 11
SP  - 1194
EP  - 1204
DO  - 10.1002/ajim.22489
ER  -

166

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