Impact of Behavioral Health Training to Public Health Assistant Working in an Acute Psychiatric Setting in Reducing Patient-Led Workplace Violence

Abstract

Workplace violence in healthcare settings is increasing worldwide. The risk of verbal and physical aggression towards healthcare workers is especially higher in psychiatry emergency settings. Public safety assistants are integral members of the psychiatry emergency department, who are frequently first responders to those with mental health issues. There is limited evidence discussing the patient-led workplace violence faced by public safety assistants. The purpose of this project is to explore the prevalence of physical and verbal patient-led violence faced by Public Safety Assistants (PSAs) working in psychiatry emergency settings and explore the impact of basic behavioral health education on PSAs in reducing patient-led workplace violence.