Patient and Family Member Violent Situations in a Pediatric Hospital: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

PurposeThe intent of this study is to report on violent situations involving the pediatric patient and/or the patient's family member in the inpatient hospital setting. Design and methodsThis descriptive study used two independent samples: Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) recipients and surveyed pediatric healthcare staff at a pediatric hospital within a large urban Midwestern academic hospital in the United States. ResultsPer BERT recipients (N = 26) and staff survey respondents (N = 91), common physical patient behaviors were, respectively, hitting (60%, 77%) and kicking (53%, 82%). Fifteen (75%) patient BERT responses were for violent situations. The most common mental health condition among patients in violent situations was behavior dyscontrol (n = 8, 53%), which was absent among calls for non-violent situations (n = 5). Seizures, which was the most common medical condition among patients in BERT violent situations (n = 6, 40%), was proportionately slightly greater than among non-violent situations (n = 1, 20%). Staff who reported experience with violent situations (n = 64, 73%) were from general medical units (n = 48, 75%), and registered nurses (n = 53, 79%). ConclusionsThis study helped illuminate demographic, medical and mental health clues about violent situations with patients and family members on pediatric inpatient hospital units. Practice implicationsPediatric patients and families may struggle to cope during hospitalization. Healthcare providers' knowledge about co-occurring conditions, stress related to hospitalization and use of BERT as a resource may help prevent violent situations.