Authors' objectives:

The purpose of this Technical Brief was to systematically identify and appraise international evidence for the effectiveness of staff training for preventing or managing violence directed at nurses and other healthcare workers in mental health services and emergency departments.

Authors' recommendations: Numerous studies have been carried out on the prevalence, causes and nature of violence in mental health units and emergency departments worldwide, however there have been few high quality studies which actually rigorously assess the effects of various staff training interventions in preventing or reducing violence. Most programmes do not specifically address the psychological and organisational costs associated with aggression in the workplace and there still needs to be research which addresses the multiple contexts in which violence occurs. Overall the evidence for the effectiveness of staff training programmes for preventing violence is inconclusive. This reflects the fact that the quality of the evidence evaluating the effectiveness of staff training programmes for preventing or minimising violence to healthcare workers is relatively low according to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) hierarchy of evidence. The lack of published literature from New Zealand settings is also a major limitation of this Technical Brief. There was some suggestion that staff training may lead to increases in staff knowledge of certain skills and techniques and in some but not all cases, a short-term reduction in the incidence of violence but without further controlled studies the evidence for this remains equivocal. Any longer term or sustained effect from training to date is unknown. No specific programme or particular approach can be recommended as more effective than another although most of the programmes appear to contain common elements.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://nzhta.chmeds.ac.nz/publications.htm

Year Published: 2005

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: New Zealand

Organisation Name: New Zealand Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. Tel: +64 3 364 1145; Fax: +64 3 364 1152;

Contact Name: nzhta@chmeds.ac.nz

Contact Email: nzhta@chmeds.ac.nz

Copyright: New Zealand Health Technology Assessment (NZHTA)