Violence
Research Areas:
"Workplace violence is one of the most complex and dangerous occupational hazards facing healthcare and social service workers. The complexities arise, in part, from a healthcare culture resistant to the notion that healthcare providers are at risk for patient-related violence combined with complacency that violence (if it exists) 'is part of the job.' The dangers arise from the absence of strong violence prevention programs and protective regulations. These factors together with other organizational factors such as staff shortages and increased patient acuity create substantial barriers to eliminating violence in today’s healthcare workplace.” McPhaul, KM and Lipscomb, JA
Center faculty are conducting research to understand the root causes of workplace violence in human service work and, most importantly, how to prevent the consequences of violence at work. Violence in hospitals can involve patients, visitors and staff, but always results in disruption, temporary chaos, and significant costs to the organization. These include costs associated with lost work time, medical costs, legal liability, stress to patients and staff and staff turnover. The Center is evaluating the impact of a comprehensive violence prevention program on workplace violence and the stress associated with working in a violence environment.
Grants:
“Evaluation of Organizational Justice Intervention to Alleviate Type III Violence" CDC/NIOSH, July 2006. This study develops, implements, and evaluates effective intervention strategies for preventing Type III (worker on worker) violence in a state government workforce. Lipscomb (PI), Co-investigators: Kate McPhaul, Jeffrey V. Johnson, Jeanne Geiger Brown, Barker Bausell. (R01 OH009072)
"Evaluation of Workplace Violence Prevention Intervention" National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. October 1, 2002 - September 30, 2007, The major objectives of this project are to evaluate risk factors for assault in the social service workplace and to implement and evaluate the impact of a comprehensive violence prevention program on staff. PI: Jane Lipscomb; Co-investigators: Kate McPhaul, Jeffrey V. Johnson, Jeanne Geiger Brown. (R01 OH007948)
"Workplace Violence Risk in the Home Health Work Place” National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. October 1, 2002 - September 30, 2004, The main objective of this grant is to develop measures for assessing the risk of violence in the home health care workplace. PI: Jane Lipscomb, Co-PI – Kate McPhaul, Co-investigators: Jeanne Geiger Brown, Jeffrey V. Johnson, Karen Soeken. (R21 OH0007754)
“Workplace Violence in Home and Community Health” National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2003, The objective of this grant was to qualitatively measure the risk of violence to intensive case managers providing community based care to the mentally ill. PI: Kate McPhaul, Co-investigators: Jane Lipscomb, Jeffrey V. Johnson, Karen Kauffman.
“Effects of OSHA Guidelines on Violence Prevention in Mental Health” National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. October 1, 1999 - September 30, 2002, The aims of this grant included to document a process for implementing OSHA's Violence Prevention Guidelines in the in-patient mental health setting and to evaluate the impact of a comprehensive violence prevention program on staff assaults, threats of assaults and job satisfaction. PI: Jane Lipscomb, Co-investigators: Kate McPhaul, Jeanne Geiger Brown, Karen Soeken. (R01 OH004051)
Publications:
Lipscomb, J., McPhaul, K., Rosen, J., Geiger-Brown, J., Choi, M., Soeken, K., Vignola, V., Wagoner, D., Foley, J., Porter, P. Violence prevention in the mental health setting: The New York State experience. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 38: 79-117, 2007.
Geiger-Brown, J., Muntaner, C., McPhaul, K., Lipscomb, J., Trinkoff, A.M. Abuse and Violence During Home Care Work as Predictor of Worker Depression. Home Health Care Services Quarterly, 26: 59-77, 2007.
McPhaul, K., Rosen, J., Bobb, S., Okechukwu, C., Geiger-Brown, J., Kauffman, K., Johnson, J., Lipscomb, J. An exploratory study of mandated safety measures for home visiting case managers. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research.
Lipscomb, J., McPhaul, K., Rosen, J., Geiger-Brown, J., Choi, M., Soeken, K., Vignola, V., Wagoner, D., Foley, J., Porter, P. Violence prevention in the mental health setting: The New York State experience. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, In press.
Lipscomb, J.A. Homicide and assault. In Levy BS, Wegman DH, Rest K, Weeks J (Eds.). Preventing Occupational Disease and Injury (2nd edition) 253-256. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2005.
McPhaul K, Lipscomb J. Workplace violence in health care: recognized but not regulated. Online Journal Issues in Nursing, 30:7, 2004.
Geiger-Brown, J., Muntaner, C., Lipscomb, J., McPhaul, K. Violence towards nursing assistants in nursing homes: Effect on mental health. Journal of Healthcare Safety, 1(2), 31-36, 2003.
Lipscomb J, Silverstein B, Slavin TJ, Cody E, Jenkins L. Perspectives on legal strategies to prevent workplace violence. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 30:166-172, 2002.
Research Partners:
- New York State Civil Service Employee Association (CSEA)
- New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF)
- New York State Office of Mental Health
- New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS)
- NYSCOPBA (New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc.)
- SEIU 434B, Los Angeles, CA
- SEIU 1199 NW, Seattle WA