The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61608

Daniel Hartley, EdD, Kristi R. Anderson, MPH, and Lynn Jenkins. Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Rd. M/S H-1811, Morgantown, WV 26505, 304-285-5812, DHartley@cdc.gov

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a database of injuries treated in a nationally-representative sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments, reported an estimated average of 88,400 assault cases (confidence interval of 21,500) for the years 1998 and 1999. This study utilizes narrative data from NEISS to determine potential cases for a workplace assault follow-back study. The study uses telephone interview surveys to collect information related to specific circumstances and risk factors for workplace violence. Interviews began for cases occurring in December 2002, and will continue through September 2003. Approximately 1,000 interviews are anticipated. In addition to an extended narrative description of the injury incident, the follow-back interview will cover items such as: general workplace organization, personal worker characteristics, perpetrator characteristics, security measures, and prevention strategies. The survey includes an additional question set for health care workers, a high risk group for workplace assault. For the two year period, 1998 and 1999, NEISS data indicates workplace assaults occurred at an estimated average rate of 6.8/10,000 full-time equivalents (FTE). With an average rate of 7.5/10,000 FTE, females had a slightly higher rate of workplace assault than males (6.2/10,000 FTE) during this period. NEISS sample data indicates 2473 assault victims were treated in emergency departments in 1998 and 1999. Forty-one percent (1,020) of these occurred in health services industries, of which 36% (370) were nurses or nurse’s aides. Data collected will provide critical information for understanding the nature and impact of nonfatal workplace assault, thereby helping to refine workplace violence prevention strategies.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant in this session will be able to:
• Identify risk factors and describe intervention strategies for workplace violence, especially those relating to health care workers.
• Recognize environmental, behavioral, and administrative elements that may contribute to the risk of workplace violence within participant's worksite or area of research.
• Apply research findings to develop an effective workplace violence prevention program within participant's worksite or area of research.

Keywords: Occupational Injury and Death, Violence Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.