J Korean Soc Emerg Med.
2004 Dec;15(6):575-579.
Current Status of Violence in the Emergency Centers: Frequency and Management
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine Chungnam National University, Daejon, Korea. mdinsool@cnuh.co.kr
- 2Department of Emergency Medicine, Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to describe the current status of violence in emergency departments (ED) in Korea, especially in the aspect of frequency and management. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of 60 academic emergency departments was performed. The questionnaires were posted to the chief resident physicians of emergency medicine.
RESULTS
Thirty-three EDs (55%) responded to the survey questionnaire. The responders were experienced 18.4 verbal insults, 5.5 physical threats, 0.4 threats by weapon, 1.8 physical violences and 3.3 facility damages per 100,000 patients in a month. All kinds of violence occurred more frequently in the ED which annual census was less than 30,000. The current coping strategies for violence were video surveillance (93.9%), security personnel (75.8%), access control (36.4%), and educational programs (18.2%). The rate of threat by weapon and facility damage was significantly lower in the ED having security personnel.
CONCLUSION
This study suggested that ED violence occurred frequently. The rate of violence of the ED having high annual census was more higher, because violence events may be suppressed by security personnel.
