Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To survey emergency department (ED) clinical staff about their perceptions of alcohol-related presentations.
DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A mixed methods online survey of ED clinicians in Australia and New Zealand, conducted from 30 May to 7 July 2014.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The frequency of aggression from alcohol-affected patients or their carers experienced by ED staff; the perceived impact of alcohol-related presentations on ED function, waiting times, other patients and staff.
RESULTS: In total, 2002 ED clinical staff completed the survey, including 904 ED nurses (45.2%) and 1016 ED doctors (50.7%). Alcohol-related verbal aggression from patients had been experienced in the past 12 months by 97.9% of respondents, and physical aggression by 92.2%. ED nurses were the group most likely to have felt unsafe because of the behaviour of these patients (92% reported such feelings). Alcohol-related presentations were perceived to negatively or very negatively affect waiting times (noted by 85.5% of respondents), other patients in the waiting room (94.4%), and the care of other patients (88.3%). Alcohol-affected patients were perceived to have a negative or very negative impact on staff workload (94.2%), wellbeing (74.1%) and job satisfaction (80.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: Verbal and physical aggression by alcohol-affected patients is commonly experienced by ED clinical staff. This has a negative impact on the care of other patients, as well as on staff wellbeing. Managers of health services must ensure a safe environment for staff and patients. More importantly, a comprehensive public health approach to changing the prevailing culture that tolerates alcohol-induced unacceptable behaviour is required.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 155.e1-155.e6 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Medical Journal of Australia |
| Volume | 204 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Mar 2016 |
Cite this
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Perceptions of Australasian emergency department staff of the impact of alcohol-related presentations. / Egerton-Warburton, Diana; Gosbell, Andrew; Wadsworth, Angela; Moore, Katie; Richardson, Drew B.; Fatovich, Daniel M.
In: Medical Journal of Australia, Vol. 204, No. 4, 07.03.2016, p. 155.e1-155.e6.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of Australasian emergency department staff of the impact of alcohol-related presentations
AU - Egerton-Warburton, Diana
AU - Gosbell, Andrew
AU - Wadsworth, Angela
AU - Moore, Katie
AU - Richardson, Drew B.
AU - Fatovich, Daniel M.
PY - 2016/3/7
Y1 - 2016/3/7
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To survey emergency department (ED) clinical staff about their perceptions of alcohol-related presentations.DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A mixed methods online survey of ED clinicians in Australia and New Zealand, conducted from 30 May to 7 July 2014.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The frequency of aggression from alcohol-affected patients or their carers experienced by ED staff; the perceived impact of alcohol-related presentations on ED function, waiting times, other patients and staff.RESULTS: In total, 2002 ED clinical staff completed the survey, including 904 ED nurses (45.2%) and 1016 ED doctors (50.7%). Alcohol-related verbal aggression from patients had been experienced in the past 12 months by 97.9% of respondents, and physical aggression by 92.2%. ED nurses were the group most likely to have felt unsafe because of the behaviour of these patients (92% reported such feelings). Alcohol-related presentations were perceived to negatively or very negatively affect waiting times (noted by 85.5% of respondents), other patients in the waiting room (94.4%), and the care of other patients (88.3%). Alcohol-affected patients were perceived to have a negative or very negative impact on staff workload (94.2%), wellbeing (74.1%) and job satisfaction (80.9%).CONCLUSIONS: Verbal and physical aggression by alcohol-affected patients is commonly experienced by ED clinical staff. This has a negative impact on the care of other patients, as well as on staff wellbeing. Managers of health services must ensure a safe environment for staff and patients. More importantly, a comprehensive public health approach to changing the prevailing culture that tolerates alcohol-induced unacceptable behaviour is required.
AB - OBJECTIVES: To survey emergency department (ED) clinical staff about their perceptions of alcohol-related presentations.DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A mixed methods online survey of ED clinicians in Australia and New Zealand, conducted from 30 May to 7 July 2014.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The frequency of aggression from alcohol-affected patients or their carers experienced by ED staff; the perceived impact of alcohol-related presentations on ED function, waiting times, other patients and staff.RESULTS: In total, 2002 ED clinical staff completed the survey, including 904 ED nurses (45.2%) and 1016 ED doctors (50.7%). Alcohol-related verbal aggression from patients had been experienced in the past 12 months by 97.9% of respondents, and physical aggression by 92.2%. ED nurses were the group most likely to have felt unsafe because of the behaviour of these patients (92% reported such feelings). Alcohol-related presentations were perceived to negatively or very negatively affect waiting times (noted by 85.5% of respondents), other patients in the waiting room (94.4%), and the care of other patients (88.3%). Alcohol-affected patients were perceived to have a negative or very negative impact on staff workload (94.2%), wellbeing (74.1%) and job satisfaction (80.9%).CONCLUSIONS: Verbal and physical aggression by alcohol-affected patients is commonly experienced by ED clinical staff. This has a negative impact on the care of other patients, as well as on staff wellbeing. Managers of health services must ensure a safe environment for staff and patients. More importantly, a comprehensive public health approach to changing the prevailing culture that tolerates alcohol-induced unacceptable behaviour is required.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84978872740&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5694/mja15.00858
DO - 10.5694/mja15.00858
M3 - Article
VL - 204
SP - 155.e1-155.e6
JO - Medical Journal of Australia
JF - Medical Journal of Australia
SN - 0025-729X
IS - 4
ER -