Violence training

TRAINING to help healthcare staff deal with violence at work is making a difference -- but only where it has a solid grounding in day-to-day situations, according to research reported by Scotsman.com.

Work-related violence is one of the most serious occupational hazards facing the healthcare sector, with nearly 12 per cent of staff experiencing physical violence from patients or their relatives and nearly 26 per cent experiencing bullying, harassment or abuse.

Violence management training offered to staff -- for example, de-escalation, breakaway moves, control and restraint -- has often been a key element of strategies to prevent or manage the problem.

The University of Nottingham research found that practical training being given to nurses, doctors and other health professionals is generally yielding "positive, but limited, short-term benefits" in dealing with the rising tide of aggression and violence they face in the workplace.

The researchers concluded that to achieve effective standards, training has to blend with other preventative systems and procedures that are already in place in an organization. It is important that training does not just focus on promoting individual skills and knowledge.