Citation

Arnetz JE, Aranyos D, Ager JW, Upfal MJ. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2011; 54(12): 925-934.

Affiliation

Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. jarnetz@med.wayne.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.20984

PMID

21739469

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A unique and comprehensive reporting and population-based violence surveillance system in a multi-site hospital system is presented. METHODS: Incidence rates and rate ratios (RR) were calculated by year, hospital, violence type, and job category in six hospitals, 2003-2008. RESULTS: Incidence rates per hospital for the 6-year period ranged from a low of 1.52 to a high of 10.89 incidents/100 full-time equivalents (FTEs), with the highest risk at a hospital with an outpatient mental health facility (RR = 7.16, 95%CI = 5.17-10.26). Rates for worker-on-worker violence exceeded rates for patient-to-worker violence from 2004 to 2008. Mental health technicians (RR = 13.82, 95%CI = 11.13-17.29) and security personnel (RR = 2.25, CI = 1.68-3.00) were at greatest risk for violence. CONCLUSIONS: This surveillance system provides ongoing information on professional groups and hospital departments at risk and trends in violence reporting over time. It can be used to determine where appropriate violence prevention efforts are most needed, and to evaluate violence interventions. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Language: en