Citation

Lynch J, Appelboam R, McQuillan PJ. Anaesthesia 2003; 58(9): 893-899.

Affiliation

Department of Critical Care, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hants, PO6 3LY, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12911365

Abstract

A postal survey of senior nurses in intensive care units in England and Wales was conducted. The aim was to ascertain the frequency of abusive and violent behaviour by patients and relatives towards intensive care staff, discover the perceived causes, effects and documentation of such behaviour and define the current and proposed security arrangements for intensive care units. Response rate was 94%. During the study period, verbal abuse of nurses by patients and by relatives occurred in 87% and 74% of intensive care units, respectively. The relevant figures for doctors were 65% and 59%, respectively. Nurses experienced physical abuse by patients and by relatives in at least 77% and 17% of intensive care units, respectively (doctors 38% and 8%). Illness was the main perceived cause of offences by patients whereas 'distress' (45%), alcohol (24%), sociopathic behaviour (27%) were the main putative causes amongst relatives. Whilst 43% of intensive care units have no security system at the door, staff awareness, training and communication skills may be the principle tools in reducing the frequency and consequences of violent and abusive behaviour. This survey probably underestimates the problem.

Language: en