Replicated declines in assault rates after implementation of the Assaulted Staff Action Program

Area of Science:

• Psychiatric healthcare
• Occupational safety
• Healthcare administration

Background:

• Patient assaults on psychiatric staff pose significant risks.
• The Assaulted Staff Action Program (ASAP) previously demonstrated effectiveness in reducing assaults.
• Replication of ASAP's success in new settings is crucial for broader impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Assaulted Staff Action Program (ASAP) in three new psychiatric hospitals.
• To determine if the previously observed reduction in assault rates could be replicated.
• To assess the sustained impact of ASAP on staff safety.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the Assaulted Staff Action Program (ASAP) across three state psychiatric hospitals.
• Comparison of assault rates in the three months preceding ASAP implementation with rates in the subsequent four quarters.
• Statistical analysis to determine the significance of changes in assault rates.

Main Results:

• All three facilities experienced a significant decline in patient assault rates during the first quarter post-implementation.
• The reduction in assault rates was consistent across the newly implemented sites.
• No further significant decreases in assault rates were observed in the subsequent three quarters.

Conclusions:

• The Assaulted Staff Action Program (ASAP) effectively reduces patient assaults on psychiatric staff in replicated settings.
• ASAP demonstrates a consistent and immediate positive impact on staff safety.
• Further research may explore long-term sustainability and contributing factors to sustained reductions.