Author ORCID Identifier
Co-Author: Dr. Lisa Scherer
Advisor Information
Dr. Lisa Scherer
Location
112
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
1-3-2019 12:45 PM
End Date
1-3-2019 2:00 PM
Abstract
An Exploration of Why Healthcare Professionals Under-Report Observed Patient Aggression
Authors: Sydney Bonta & Lisa L. Scherer, Ph.D.
Advisor: Lisa L. Scherer, Ph.D.
According to the 2011 US Bureau of Justice Statistics report, medical professionals experienced the third highest proportion of workplace violence (WPV), with violence primarily emanating from patient. In a national survey of nurses employed in hospitals, 76% stated that they had encountered some sort of violence in their workplace (Speroni, Fitch, Dawson, Dugan, Atherton, & Leesburg, 2014). Similarly, patient aggression against physicians has long been a problem (Morrison, Lantos, Levinson, 1998). Despite this widespread exposure to WPV and the physical and emotional consequences for the victims of this violence, patient violence is severely under-reported. The purpose of this study is to review reasons for this failure of healthcare providers to report patient violence they have suffered and to identify more effective practices for encouraging reporting and ultimately promoting safer work environments for medical staff.
Included in
Emergency Medicine Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Commons, Psychiatry and Psychology Commons
An Exploration of Why Healthcare Professionals Under-Report Observed Patient Aggression
112
An Exploration of Why Healthcare Professionals Under-Report Observed Patient Aggression
Authors: Sydney Bonta & Lisa L. Scherer, Ph.D.
Advisor: Lisa L. Scherer, Ph.D.
According to the 2011 US Bureau of Justice Statistics report, medical professionals experienced the third highest proportion of workplace violence (WPV), with violence primarily emanating from patient. In a national survey of nurses employed in hospitals, 76% stated that they had encountered some sort of violence in their workplace (Speroni, Fitch, Dawson, Dugan, Atherton, & Leesburg, 2014). Similarly, patient aggression against physicians has long been a problem (Morrison, Lantos, Levinson, 1998). Despite this widespread exposure to WPV and the physical and emotional consequences for the victims of this violence, patient violence is severely under-reported. The purpose of this study is to review reasons for this failure of healthcare providers to report patient violence they have suffered and to identify more effective practices for encouraging reporting and ultimately promoting safer work environments for medical staff.