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[Violent and aggressive behavior among patients in emergency wards]
1Odense Sygehus, Skadestuen og ortopaedkirurgisk afdeling.
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|February 7, 1994
Summary
Aggressive behavior in emergency rooms (ERs) is rare, occurring in 0.08% of patient contacts. Identifying risk factors like alcohol or drug influence and long wait times can help prevent future incidents.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Criminology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Patient aggression in emergency rooms (ERs) poses risks to staff.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for developing preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors for violent and aggressive behavior in emergency room patients.
- To inform the development of prophylactic measures against patient aggression.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was administered to staff reporting incidents of patient aggression over a 12-month period.
- Data collected from the largest emergency room in Denmark (Odense University Hospital).
Main Results:
- 36 incidents of aggression occurred out of 47,013 patient contacts (0.08% incidence).
- Most incidents (83%) involved men, often under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or medication.
- Incidents peaked during evenings, weekends, and holidays; long waiting times were a factor in 22% of cases.
Conclusions:
- Patient aggression in ERs is multifactorial, influenced by personal and situational factors.
- Reducing waiting times through organizational changes may decrease aggression.
- Environmental triggers in ERs are often overlooked.