SCIENTIFIC REPORT

Background

Violence in the hospital setting, particularly violence perpetrated by patients and visitors, is a
growing public health concern. The economic impact of workplace violence has been estimated
at annual losses of 1.8 million work days and $55 million in wages, as well as lost productivity,
legal and security expenses, property damage, and harm to public image (US Department of
Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2011). Adverse physical and mental
consequences on workers have been described as well (Dement JM, Lipscomb HJ,
Schoenfisch AL, & Pompeii LA, 2014; Pompeii LA et al., 2013). Although most occupational
safety and health research related to hospital violence has focused on the impact on direct
patient care staff (e.g., nurses, nurses’ aides, and physicians), police and security personnel
have been described as being at particularly high risk. In a recent study examining violence
perpetrated by patients and visitors against hospital workers, police officers and security
personnel had the highest rate of violent event-related injury (5.1 per 100 full-time equivalents) –
notably higher than that of inpatient nurses (1.8 per 100 full-time equivalents) (Pompeii LA et al.,
2013).

Several observational studies have described security practices and policies in the hospital
setting, including the availability of weapons for use by security personnel (Campus Safety
Magazine, 2011; Ho JD et al., 2011; Lavoie FW, Carter GL, Danzl DF, & Berg RL, 1988; Meyer
H & Hoppszallem S, 2011). Although some of these studies provide an overview of hospitals’
security practices at the national level, none address comprehensively the relationship between
weapons availability and hospital violence. Given an increase in violence in the hospital setting
and continued attention on hospital security programs, there is a need to examine current
hospital safety and security practices and how they relate to the prevention and mitigation of
events of hospital violence, including the use of weapons by security personnel.

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