Revisiting Therapeutic Communication as an Evidence-Based Intervention to Decrease Violence by Patients Against Staff...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Behavioral Health
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Violence against healthcare workers is a pervasive issue impacting providers and patient care.
• Acute inpatient behavioral hospitals face unique challenges regarding patient-to-staff aggression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a therapeutic communications training program on reducing patient-to-staff violence.
• To measure changes in staff self-efficacy and knowledge regarding therapeutic communication techniques.
• To evaluate the overall effect of the training on staff and observed outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A pretest and posttest design was employed to evaluate the training program's effectiveness.
• The study involved 15 recruited staff members in an acute inpatient behavioral hospital setting.
• Data collection focused on violence incidents, staff knowledge, and self-efficacy levels.

Main Results:

• A 73% decrease in violence incidents was observed post-training, correlating with the education sessions.
• Significant improvements were noted in staff self-efficacy (p < 0.001) and knowledge levels (p < 0.001).
• The training program demonstrated a positive impact on staff reaction, learning, behavior, and observed results.

Conclusions:

• Therapeutic communications training effectively reduced patient-to-staff violence in behavioral health settings.
• The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing and reinforcing therapeutic communication skills to cultivate a safety culture.
• Continuous emphasis on these communication strategies is crucial for enhancing safety and well-being in behavioral health environments.