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A staff self-reported retrospective survey of assaults on a psychiatric intensive care ward and attitudes towards assaults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2013

Aileen O'Brien ,
Sohail Tariq ,
Mark Ashraph  and
Andrew Howe
Aileen O'Brien*
Affiliation:
St George's University of London, Section of Mental Health, London, UK
Sohail Tariq
Affiliation:
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, Claremore, Trevor Gibbens Unit, Maidstone, UK
Mark Ashraph
Affiliation:
St George's University of London, Section of Mental Health, London, UK
Andrew Howe
Affiliation:
University Hospital, Leicester, UK
*
Correspondence to: Miss Aileen O'Brien, St George's University of London, Section of Mental Health, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London, SW17 ORE. E-mail: aobrien@sgul.ac.uk
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Abstract

Introduction

Assaults on staff on psychiatric intensive care wards are unfortunately common and have a negative impact on morale.

Method

Staff on one PICU completed a survey providing an account of any assaults they had experienced over the previous year and a separate survey regarding attitudes towards assaults.

Results

65% of staff members reported having being assaulted over the year. Most did not take any time off work. Attitudes towards prosecution of patients varied. Staff valued training in this area.

Conclusions

Assaults are common on a PICU and staff are ambivalent about prosecuting patients. More training may be of value regarding prediction of assaults, and about the criminal justice interface.

Type
Original Research Article
Information
Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , August 2014 , pp. 93 - 99
Copyright
Copyright © NAPICU 2013 

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