Using action research to plan a violence prevention program for emergency departments

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Occupational Safety
• Public Health

Background:

• Emergency department (ED) violence against healthcare workers is a significant issue.
• There is a scarcity of published evaluations for interventions targeting ED violence.
• This study employed an action research model in partnership with six hospitals to address this trend.

Purpose of the Study:

• To plan, implement, and evaluate a violence prevention and management intervention in ED settings.
• To gather insights from employees, managers, and patients regarding violence in the ED.
• To identify effective strategies for reducing workplace violence in emergency departments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an action research model and the Haddon matrix for intervention development.
• Conducted twelve focus groups with 97 participants (employees, managers, patients).
• Analyzed themes related to intervention strategies across different stakeholder groups and time frames (pre-assault, during assault, post-assault).

Main Results:

• Thematic analysis confirmed the relevance, feasibility, and importance of planned intervention strategies.
• Employees and managers largely agreed on necessary interventions to prevent and manage ED violence.
• Patients emphasized the need for improved staff communication and comfort measures.

Conclusions:

• Violence in emergency departments is increasing and is a major concern for all involved.
• Interventions are crucial for mitigating workplace violence in healthcare settings.
• The Haddon matrix and action research method effectively identified sustainable intervention strategies for EDs.