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Workplace violence injury in 106 US hospitals participating in the Occupational Health Safety Network (OHSN), 2012‐2015
Author(s) -
Groenewold Matthew R.,
Sarmiento Raymond F.R.,
Vanoli Kelly,
Raudabaugh William,
Nowlin Susan,
Gomaa Ahmed
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22798
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational safety and health , workplace violence , occupational injury , health care , injury prevention , poison control , suicide prevention , hazard ratio , human factors and ergonomics , nursing , medical emergency , family medicine , environmental health , confidence interval , pathology , economics , economic growth
Background Workplace violence is a substantial occupational hazard for healthcare workers in the United States. Methods We analyzed workplace violence injury surveillance data submitted by hospitals participating in the Occupational Health Safety Network (OHSN) from 2012 to 2015. Results Data were frequently missing for several important variables. Nursing assistants (14.89, 95%CI 10.12‐21.91) and nurses (8.05, 95%CI 6.14‐10.55) had the highest crude workplace violence injury rates per 1000 full‐time equivalent (FTE) workers. Nursing assistants' (IRR 2.82, 95%CI 2.36‐3.36) and nurses' (IRR 1.70, 95%CI 1.45‐1.99) adjusted workplace violence injury rates were significantly higher than those of non‐patient care personnel. On average, the overall rate of workplace violence injury among OHSN‐participating hospitals increased by 23% annually during the study period. Conclusion Improved data collection is needed for OHSN to realize its full potential. Workplace violence is a serious, increasingly common problem in OHSN‐participating hospitals. Nursing assistants and nurses have the highest injury risk.