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The relationship of behavioral cues to assaultive behavior
Clinical Nursing Research
|February 1, 1996
Summary
Patients who physically assaulted staff had a history of prior assaults and difficulty managing anger. Behavioral assessments revealed increased verbal hostility and motor activity before the assault, differentiating them from non-assaultive patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
- Criminology
Background:
- Patient-on-staff aggression is a significant concern in healthcare settings.
- Understanding predictors of assaultive behavior is crucial for patient and staff safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate between assaultive and non-assaultive patients using behavioral and sociodemographic data.
- To identify specific behavioral markers preceding patient assaults.
Main Methods:
- A 2-year, case-control study involving 72 patients (26 pairs).
- Retrospective chart reviews and patient interviews were conducted.
- Behavioral assessments and sociodemographic variables were analyzed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in sociodemographic variables were found between groups.
- Assaultive patients had a history of more prior assaults (p = .04).
- Assaultive patients exhibited greater difficulty with anger verbalization (p < .01), increased verbal hostility (p = .037), and elevated motor activity (p = .001) prior to assaults.
Conclusions:
- Sociodemographic factors do not differentiate assaultive from non-assaultive patients.
- Specific behavioral indicators, including prior assaults and difficulties in anger expression, predict assaultive incidents.
- Behavioral assessments are valuable tools for identifying patients at risk for aggression.