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- Title
Perceptions of Australasian emergency department staff of the impact of alcohol-related presentations.
- Authors
Egerton-Warburton, Diana; Gosbell, Andrew; Wadsworth, Angela; Moore, Katie; Richardson, Drew B; Fatovich, Daniel M
- Abstract
<bold>Objectives: </bold>To survey emergency department (ED) clinical staff about their perceptions of alcohol-related presentations.<bold>Design, Setting and Participants: </bold>A mixed methods online survey of ED clinicians in Australia and New Zealand, conducted from 30 May to 7 July 2014.<bold>Main Outcome Measures: </bold>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.<bold>Results: </bold>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%).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>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.
- Subjects
AGGRESSION (Psychology); PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of alcohol; PUBLIC health research; MEDICAL personnel; INTERNET surveys
- Publication
Medical Journal of Australia, 2016, Vol 204, Issue 4, p155
- ISSN
0025-729X
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.5694/mja15.00858