Violent Incidents Research Articles

Team case formulation for challenging behaviour on acute psychiatric wards

Due to the high prevalence of challenging behaviours on acute psychiatric wards, there is a need for more therapeutic interventions that utilize psychological theory to support staff and patients. This study assessed feasibility, effectiveness and mechanisms of multidisciplinary team case formulation to reduce challenging behaviours of patients. This was a cohort study with a pre‐ and post‐formulation analysis of patients from five acute wards. Structured team case formulation sessions were held using an integrative psychological model incorporating cognitive behavioural principles and the Newcastle model. Staff attendance and fidelity to formulation components were recorded. Frequency of staff-rated challenging behaviours and the frequency of incidents of violence and self‐harm pre‐ and one‐week post‐formulation were assessed. To test mechanisms, changes in staff perceptions of the overall frequency of challenging behaviours and the number of incidents of violence and self‐harm were compared to the number of strategies identified, the number of strategies implemented, and the number of staff present. Participants (N = 50) had a range of serious mental health conditions, including 50% with F20???F29 schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorder. Fidelity to formulation model components was found to be high. There was a significant decrease in staff perception of the frequency of patients’ challenging behaviours, with large effect sizes. There was strong evidence of a reduction in the number of violent incidents and self‐harm post‐case formulation. None of the mechanism tests were significant. Case formulation sessions appear to be a feasible and effective intervention to reduce challenging behaviours within acute inpatient care.

A mixed methods study into the effectiveness of sensory rooms in reducing agitation levels in a psychiatric intensive care unit

Background:Reducing incidences of violence, and the use of restrictive interventions within psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs), is a priority nationally. One method for reducing violence and aggression from escalating in PICUs is sensory rooms. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of sensory rooms as an alternative strategy to manage agitation levels in a PICU and understand the patient and staff experiences of using sensory rooms as an alternative intervention to standard approaches for agitation reduction. Method:A mixed methods approach collected data over six months using an observational rating scale pre and post-sensory room, and conducting nine semi-structured interviews with patients and staff. Results:71 patient contacts recorded, there was a statistically significant difference in pre and post-sensory room agitation ratings (p<0.001), with 66% (n = 47) experiencing a reduction in agitation rating post-usage. The sensory room was used as both a proactive and reactive strategy to manage agitation. Five themes emerged from the interviews: the sensory room supports emotional regulation, improves the patient's experience, develops therapeutic relationships, and offers an alternative agitation management strategy; however, it can be an underused resource due to access limitations. Conclusion:Staff and patients had positive experiences using a sensory room to manage agitation; it offers a safe space away from the busy ward environment. Several different factors impact staff using the intervention. Findings provide considerations for services when developing sensory rooms in PICUs, to ensure they are established as a reliable alternative for the management of agitation.

A RETROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF 'CODE WHITE' REPORTING IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ON THE EXTENT OF VIOLENCE IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS

The objective of this study was to examine and contrast the incidence of violence reported by White Code in a university hospital in Turkey and to analyse the phenomenon of workplace violence in terms of related variables. The study included 477 cases of violence against health workers reported between 2018 and 2023. The data were collected using a complete census method. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test were employed for the statistical evaluation. Results: The majority of those subjected to violence were doctors (69.6%). The emergency services were the setting in which violence was encountered most frequently (51.6%). It was observed that physicians were exposed to verbal violence more than other occupational groups. There was a difference between years according to the type of violence, and violence was mostly caused by miscommunication. Consequently, it would be beneficial to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation of the consequences of violence on healthcare professionals.

Strengthening Citizenship Attitudes Through Civil Society in Elementary School Students in Mandailing Natal

The decline in citizenship attitudes among elementary school students is a significant concern requiring urgent attention. Citizenship attitudes, encompassing consciousness, responsibility, participation, and loyalty as Indonesian citizens, are crucial in molding individuals who contribute positively to national life. Recent incidents of bullying, violence, and intolerance in elementary schools across Indonesia highlight a disturbing trend, emphasizing the urgent need for action. Bullying incidents, particularly in Mandailing Natal District, persist due to factors like seniority culture and lack of empathy, exacerbating students' vulnerability. To address this decline, civil society's role is essential, yet its full potential remains untapped due to various constraints. Understanding this background is crucial for effective intervention design. Civil society can reinforce citizenship attitudes, advocate social righteousness, and enhance national integration, emphasizing values like legal awareness, social responsibility, and tolerance. Child-friendly school environments and active participation in civil society programs can empower students and foster inclusive communities. Strengthening citizenship attitudes requires curriculum integration, extracurricular activities, and teacher training to enhance students' awareness and critical thinking. Collaborative efforts involving schools, teachers, students, and the local community are vital, along with investment in resources and partnerships. By reinforcing citizenship attitudes, we can cultivate individuals committed to democracy, tolerance, and social responsibility, fostering a harmonious and inclusive society.

Beyond the Basics: Partnerships and Innovations for Empowerment to Address Workplace Violence, a Call to Action.

Workplace violence (WPV) has become a crisis for health care workers, with a significant increase in violent events taking place in health care settings across the nation. Health care organizations should develop a comprehensive WPV program that includes recognition, management, and reporting of all types of WPV. A large health care system developed strategies and a program to address WPV. The health care system believes that a safe and respectful work environment is foundational to the goal of zero preventable harm. The "Safety in the Workplace" initiative was designed to raise awareness of concerning behaviors and to offer tools and resources for identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of violence, aggression, or disruptive behaviors of WPV. During a 6-month pilot of a WPV bundle, there was a 44% reduction in physical violence reports and a 44% reduction in reported incidents of WPV. From June 2020 to June 2021, there was a 10% decrease in WPV overall.

Addressing violence and victimization in a school setting in Greece

The phenomenon of school violence has increasingly become the focus of research in Greece, especially during the last two decades, and includes online involvement in violence, mainly for students in middle and high school grades. In addition to the violent events that occur in school settings, adolescents are more active online than any other group and are therefore increasingly exposed to cybervictimization. The research data indicate that although cyberbullying increasingly occurs in Greece, young people, parents and educators are not aware of the extent of the problem of cybervictimization, of its main characteristics and, most importantly, of the ways to prevent it. In this article, recent data are presented on violence expressed and its implications, with an emphasis on the Greek school setting, concerning the involvement of adolescent students in incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, cybergrooming and cyber-hate speech as perpetrators, victims and bystanders. We outline the factors that lead to violence within the school setting, such as those that lead to the expression of violence and the strategies that adolescents adopt to cope with incidents of violence. Finally, the implications of this paper highlight that significant changes should be made in the field of education within school settings by recognizing the hidden structures that may sustain the phenomenon of violence to ensure that all students are reflected in the educational curriculum and supported by the institution of the school. The school setting should include initiatives to empower students to be protected and to develop critical thinking and active coping strategies against episodes of violence and bullying.

Bride price payment and marriage Stability: An ethnographic study of the Brifors of the Upper West Region, Ghana

A bride price creates an unending bond for married couples in sub-Sahara Africa. This gesture is key within the Brifor cultural milieu in Ghana. This paper investigates the impact of bride price on marriage stability among the Brifor ethnic group. In-depth interviews were conducted with 45 Key Informants and seven defined groups. The results show that the cultural demands of high bride price payment among the Brifors stabilizes marriages, secures the entitlement right of the husband to the woman and children, but increases incidences of violence against women. From the results it is evident that apart from the high bride price payment contributing to marriage instability, there is also the indication that the abuse of the rights of wives depends largely on the character of the husbands, including the cultural mindset instilled in them through biological traits and/or family socialization in relation to their culture. The study concludes that although most participants felt that the practice of paying bride price should be reviewed, it was evident that the payment has become a double-edge sword confronting women in particular, relative to the stability or instability of marriages among the Brifors. Therefore, there is the need for traditional authority to reform the practice by reducing the bride price items and spacing out the payment period as a respite for husbands-to-be.

State assault weapons bans are associated with fewer fatalities: analysis of US county mass shooting incidents (2014–2022)

BackgroundThe need for evidence to inform interventions to prevent mass shootings (MS) in the USA has never been greater.MethodsData were abstracted from the Gun Violence Archive, an independent online database...

Long-Term Effects of Childhood Exposure to War on Domestic Violence

AbstractThis paper highlights the scarring effects of early life exposure to civil war, by examining the impact of exposure to conflict in childhood on the incidence of domestic violence in adulthood among married women. To estimate these effects, we use a difference-in-differences model which exploits variation in exposure to Nigeria’s 30-month-long civil war by year of birth and ethnicity. Our results, based on the 2008 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, show that women exposed to the war during childhood are more likely to be victims of domestic violence in adulthood compared to those not exposed to the war, with larger effects observed for those exposed at younger ages. Additionally, we explore the mechanisms through which exposure to civil war might affect domestic violence and find some support for both the normalisation of violence and weakened bargaining power hypotheses. Understanding the root causes of domestic violence is important given the high prevalence in developing countries and the deleterious consequences for women and their children.

The aftermath of fatal violence incidents: Why organisational measures were successful and why they their effects diminished

In 2013, an employee at a human service office in Norway was killed by a service recipient. Fast forward to 2021, another murder took place.As is often the case after recurring unwanted events, questions arose in the public debate regarding the human service organisation’s measures to counteract violence and why it could still occur, even after thorough evaluation and efforts made to improve working conditions. This article addresses these questions by delving into safety measures and efforts within the organisation and adopting an organisational perspective on the complexities of maintaining a robust violence prevention framework over time. 82 qualitative interviews were conducted with 101 managers and employees from different organisational levels and locations nationwide, in addition to a few with employees from partner organisations. A perceived effect of implemented measures and fewer violence incidents indicate a successful initiative. Nevertheless, the focus on violence prevention diminished gradually and safety issues were not addressed in new plans for organising and developing the organisation and its services. The work against violence was also characterised by fragmentation. This decline is attributed to shifting priorities caused by both internal and external conditions. The study illustrates the importance of studying safety improvements over a time span long enough to consider whether short-term effects are lasting when faced with shifting priorities originating from institutional conditions and focusing events influencing public debate and political legitimacy.

Does digital transformation increase corporate violations?

AbstractThis study examines whether digital transformation influences corporate violations in China. Using data from Chinese A‐share listed companies from 2007 to 2020, this paper finds that digital transformation increases the incidence of corporate violations. The results remain robust through endogeneity checks, the use of alternative measurements for digital transformation and corporate violations, and subsample analyses. Cross‐sectional analyses suggest that the impact of digital transformation on corporate violations is more salient in non‐state‐owned enterprises, firms with lower institutional investors shareholding ratios, and firms with higher agency costs. Mechanism analyses indicate that digital transformation leads to corporate violations by increasing operational complexity and affecting information quality. Additional tests reveal that effective corporate governance helps reduce the occurrence of corporate violations resulting from digital transformation. This research deepens our understanding of the economic implications of corporate digital transformation and provides valuable insights for businesses undergoing this process.

Factors influencing public attitudes toward criminal justice system funding

This study explores the relationship between demographic factors and attitudes toward criminal justice funding in the United States. Specifically, we explore responses from two years of data from the United States General Social Survey, both prior to and after the dramatic events of 2020, during which reformers called for a reduction in funding for law enforcement agencies as a response to high-profile incidents of police violence. We find that while certain demographic traits align with previous understandings of public attitudes toward police funding, the relationship between gender and these attitudes presents a notable exception; race appears less predictive than expected. Additionally, the impact of racially prejudiced views on opinions about law enforcement funding has grown more pronounced over time.

Media portrayal of sexual violence in Pakistan: A critical discourse analysis of the Lahore-Sialkot motorway incident

Sexual violence against women is one of the serious social concerns that still persist across the world in its various forms and manifestations. This study talks about the portrayal of the gang-rape of a woman in Pakistani English Print media who was travelling on the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway when her car ran out of petrol where two armed men came along and raped her. Grounded in the theoretical framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Transitivity analysis from Halliday's systemic functional linguistics is utilized to explore the language used by leading Pakistani English newspapers to report the incident. Moreover, the study examines how print media affects the opinion of the people towards the incidents of sexual violence against women in Pakistan. These discursive features of a language enable us to see deep into the thought-processes of the people of a society. The paper concludes that reporting on violence against women shapes and is shaped by the approach of the people towards women and the forms of violence against them.

Barriers Faced by Women and Girls with Disabilities in Disclosing Sexual Abuse in the Northwest Region of Cameroon: A Case Study

Women with disabilities are two to three times more likely to experience violence than women without a disability and are less likely to disclose incidents of sexual violence and domestic abuse. In a typically patriarchal society like Cameroon, being a woman or girl with a disability increases the likelihood of gender-based violence – a risk that has been further exacerbated by the ongoing socio-political crisis in the region. There is a misconception that women and girls with disabilities like their male counterparts are safe from sexual violence given the falsehood that it is an unusual and shameful occurrence to have sexual relations with a woman with a disability. These prevailing prejudices inspired this study to investigate the barriers that prevent women with disabilities from reporting sexual and domestic abuse. The case study design was used to conduct an in-depth content analysis of the situation of women with disability who had been abused. Nonprobability sampling resulted in a selection of 3 cases per disability type including vision, hearing, mobility, and psychosocial impairment types. Results show that there has been dead silence on abuse of women with disabilities due to social pressure, twists in the narrative to focus on blaming the victim, ignorance of what abuse is, and normalisation of abuse amongst other reasons. The study recommends the need to enhance attitudinal change through an integrated awareness strategy that includes both women and girls with disability and the perpetrators on the one hand, and society on the other with consistent capacity building for service providers on identification and pathways to managing women and girls who have been abused.

Of sacred animals: the limits of animal rights activism and political veganism in India

ABSTRACT In India, the rise of right-wing politics in the form of what Sahana Udupa terms 'enterprise Hindutva' has triggered conflicting reactions to everyday incidents, highlighting the need for a new language to address unique problems faced by vegans and animal rights activists whose politics clash with Hindutva's anti-secular discourse. 'Sacred animals' as a conceptual framework provides an important entry point into the culturally specific socio-political tensions behind complexities that limit the possibilities of viable intersectional standpoints that engage animal rights activism and political veganism. From a postsecular perspective, the relevance and unique challenges of these movements in India are evaluated, noting that existing posthumanist theories fail to address these new issues adequately. Incidents of mob lynching and violence by the cow vigilantes are recontextualized as structural symptoms instead of sporadic occurrences. The backlash against rightist tendencies has given a critical validation to irrational disregard for political veganism and animal rights activism, based on their perceived alignment with right-wing ideology. Examining food politics around beef, mockery of vegetarianism, and everyday situations where 'veg' becomes a tag of inferior quality, this study challenges unfounded associations and assumptions that undermine the disruptive potential of animal rights activism.

Employee Protection Efforts Against Actions of Abuse and Violence in Securing Assets and Securing Company Asset Management (Case Study of PTPN IV Kebun Ajamu Unit)

This research aims to explore efforts to protect employees from acts of abuse and violence in the context of securing and managing company assets, with a special focus on PTPN Unit IV Kebun Ajamu. The method used is a qualitative approach and document analysis. Through this approach, research identifies incidents of abuse and violence recorded in letters of receipt of complaint reports. This research also highlights weaknesses in the implementation of existing asset security policies and procedures in companies. Research findings show that employees feel they are not adequately trained or prepared to deal with risky situations, and that there are communication and coordination problems between departments and between management and employees. This research also emphasizes the importance of integrating more sophisticated security technology and effective monitoring systems. Based on the research results, it is recommended that PTPN IV Kebun Ajamu improve security training and education for its employees, improve internal communications, and adopt more modern security technology. This research contributes to understanding the challenges and opportunities in efforts to protect employees and safeguard assets in the work environment

Forensic medical evaluation of penetrating abdominal injuries.

This study aims to discuss the characteristics, origins, degree of injury, results, reporting, and forensic medical aspects of penetrating abdominal injuries. In this study, 28,619 cases who applied to the emergency department of Kutahya Health Sciences University Evliya Celebi Training and Research Hospital between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020 were reviewed. The forensic reports and medical documents of 85 cases with penetrating abdominal injuries were evaluated retrospectively, with the approval of the ethics committee. Among the patients included in the study, 87.1% were male and 12.9% were female. The mean age was found to be 31±13 years. When the origins of the cases were analyzed, 87.1% were found to have developed as a result of intentional injury. The incidents predominantly occurred between 20: 00 and 04: 00 hours. As a result of the examinations performed at the hospital after the incident, alcohol was detected in 36.5% of the cases, while 30.6% of the individuals did not consume alcohol. It was observed that 32.9% of the cases were not tested for alcohol. The most common injuries identified were sharp injuries, accounting for 69.4% of cases, and firearm injuries, comprising 27.1%. Organ damage was noted in 68.2% of the cases, with the small intestine being the most frequently damaged organ. The average number of wounds present was 3.6. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage was detected in 61.2% of the cases, and intra-abdominal artery injuries were found in 8.2%. The mortality rate for penetrating abdominal injuries was 8.2%. In forensic traumatology, penetrating abdominal injuries commonly lead to life-threatening conditions and loss of organ function, which represent the most severe category in trauma severity assessment. Penetrating abdominal injuries most often result from violent incidents, as observed in our study and in the literature.

Paramedic occupational violence: A qualitative examination of aggressive behaviour during out-of-hospital care

Occupational violence (OV) is an insidious problem for emergency medical services with continued high levels of paramedic exposure despite significant education and resources devoted to mitigation. Though there is considerable data on the epidemiology of the phenomenon, the available evidence on the experiences of paramedics exposed to acts of violence during healthcare is limited. Utilising a generic qualitative approach and a semi-structured interview framework, we examined the perceptions and experiences of 25 Australian paramedics who had been exposed to incidents of patient-initiated violence during out-of-hospital care. A general inductive methodology and a first- and second-cycle coding process assisted in the development of the principal concepts of the patient and the paramedic from the raw data. Subsequently, a further four main themes and 15 secondary themes were developed which characterise the influence of social interaction on the evolution of paramedic OV. The results of this study provide a unique insight into the phenomenon of paramedic OV. As opposed to the rudimentary manifestation of aggression typically endorsed by emergency medical services, aggressive behaviour during healthcare presents as a judicious interaction of dynamic scene management and situational context. The social interactions that occur during healthcare, and the premises which both promote and suppress this connection, were identified to exert significant influence on the evolution of aggressive behaviour. The consequences of these findings challenge traditional violence mitigation strategies which seek to position the patient as both the focal point of initiation and the key to its extenuation.

Protecting Frontline Workers: Strategies for Preventing and Mitigating Violence in the Emergency Department

Violence in the emergency department (ED) has been escalating for decades worldwide. High-stress situations are commonplace in the ED and can lead to intentional and unintentional aggression from patients. Staff must be educated on the signs of violence and escalation to recognize potentially dangerous situations early. Staff must also identify underlying medical conditions as the source of unintentional violence. Both situations would require different approaches to management. ED violence negatively affects patient care and leads to long-term harmful outcomes for staff. Multiple strategies for mitigation and prevention have been explored in the literature. Among those, weapon detection systems, de-escalation training, and violence prevention programs have demonstrated improved staff outcomes and decreased violence. Formalized procedures and policies should clearly assign roles for each staff member in the event of a violent patient. Training programs should be instituted and may include self-defense classes or crisis intervention courses. Emergency medicine residency programs and EDs around the country must address the rising incidence of violence within EDs through interdisciplinary policy, procedure development, and prevention and mitigation programs.

The Obligatory Roles and Responsibilities of Teachers on Learner Discipline, Case of Selected Schools in Nylstroom Circuit

Disciplinary measures and learner safety are critical components of effective teaching and learning. Lack of discipline has become a major problem in schools. The abolishment of corporal punishment led to an increase in violent incidents in schools. This study aims to provide educators with useful guidelines to help them understand their roles when instilling discipline in schools and to ensure learners have a clear understanding of the difference between discipline and corporal punishment. The study followed a qualitative research approach in exploring human elements and behavior. Interviews, observations, field notes, and questionnaires were used to collect data, with a case study design. The population consists of principals, disciplinary committee members, educators, and learners from three high schools. We used a purposive sampling method, selecting three members from each of the three schools. We used Skinner's behavioral theory model, which attempts to explain how repeated behavior with rewards alters bad behavior. We applied grounded theory, a method that employs inductive reasoning for data analysis. The study found that teachers, accustomed to the banned use of corporal punishment for discipline, find it challenging to adjust to new forms of discipline. The study revealed that parents find it difficult to accept the long-standing ban on corporal punishment and attempt to coerce teachers into applying it to their children. The study suggested educating learners about their mistakes and motivating them to avoid ill-discipline. Parents should instill morals and discipline in their children from a young age, as they model discipline and behavior at home.