Screening and Intervention to Prevent Violence Against Health Professionals from Hospitalized Patients: A Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare management
• Patient safety
• Nursing practice

Background:

• Healthcare providers, especially nurses, face risks of patient abuse.
• Patient abuse is linked to increased restraints, poor outcomes, and staff dissatisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) in identifying agitated patients.
• To assess the impact of BVC implementation on patient restraint use, staff safety, and job satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Implemented the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC) in an inpatient medical setting.
• Nurses administered the BVC to screen for agitated behavior.
• High BVC scores triggered psychiatry consultations and de-escalation training.

Main Results:

• Restraint use decreased by 17.6% and calls to Public Safety decreased by 60.0%.
• Nursing staff reported increased feelings of safety and preparedness.
• The study utilized Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles for intervention design.

Conclusions:

• The BVC is a cost-effective tool for proactive identification of agitated patients.
• Intervention algorithms and training enhance staff safety and mitigate risks.
• Psychiatric rounding and champion identification are crucial for successful implementation.