Frequency of Violence Toward Health Care Workers in United States Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals: A Systematic Review of Literature

Date: 01/01/2020
Frequency of Violence Toward Health Care Workers in United States Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals: A Systematic Review of Literature
Author(s): Rachel Odes, Susan Chapman, Robert Harrison, Sara Ackerman, and OiSaeng Hong

 

The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the frequency of violent or aggressive behaviour towards healthcare workers in inpatient psychiatric settings in the United States. To achieve this aim, five databases were searched to find English-language quantitative studies reporting prevalence or incidence data of violence or aggression directed towards staff members in inpatient psychiatric settings. Included research indicates that workplace violence in the U.S. inpatient psychiatric setting is a widespread problem. As management of this persistent problem receives continued attention from stakeholders, it becomes increasingly important to define and measure the problem with the most appropriate tools.