Authors: (including presenting author): :
WONG WL(1), CHEUNG CY(1), TUNG CK(2), LAM SKT(3), TANG YDY(4), HO MYK(5)
Affiliation: :
(1)Occupational Safety and Health Team, Cluster Human Resources Division, New Territories West Cluster (2)Department of General Adult Psychiatry, Castle Peak Hospital
(3)Department of Accident & Emergency, Tuen Mun Hospital
(4)Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Castle Peak Hospital
(5)Critical Incident Psychological Services Centre, New Territories West Cluster
Keyword 1: :
Collaboration with Mental and Acute hospitals
Keyword 2: :
Safety culture
Keyword 3: :
Staff engagement
Keyword 4: :
1 minute MoV Reels
Introduction: :
Workplace violence is a growing concern in healthcare settings, with the newly recruited nursing and supporting staff being disproportionately affected. These individuals often face unique challenges and may not feel adequately prepared to manage potential violent situations. The consequences of violent incidents are undesirable and often lead to physical injury and/or negative psychological impact to the involved staff; and adversely affect the staff morale.
Objectives: :
A comprehensive and innovative cluster-based Management of Violence(MoV) program is implemented to: 1) Develop a system and governance structure for MoV;
2) Equip staff with knowledge and skills for violence prevention, incident handling, post-incident support, and enhance competence through practical workshops and drills;
3) Raise awareness among newly recruited staff using an interactive approach;
4) Cultivate a safety culture related to MoV.
Methodology: :
The components of the MoV program includes: 1. Establishing a MoV workgroup, co-chaired by a psychiatrist and an emergency medicine physician, to analyze the needs and set directions within our cluster; and forming two executive groups (acute hospitals and mental hospital respectively) to implement the initiatives;
2. Transforming the traditional single half-day MoV event (held since 2017) into three lunch-hour seminars to increase accessibility. Seminars were delivered by certified MoV trainers, a psychiatrist, and a mental health counsellor to strengthen staff knowledge;
3. Organizing training, practical control and restraint workshops, and inter-departmental drills to strengthen hands-on practical experiences. De-escalation and stress management training were included to improve skills for pre-incident prevention and post-incident coping;
4. Equipping staff in high-risk departments with forearm protectors to minimize risk of injury during restraint procedures;
5. Engaging staff through an 1-Minute MoV Reels competition to promote MoV tips in a relaxed and innovative format, encouraging creativity and peer learning.
Result & Outcome: :
The program was associated with a 37% reduction in workplace violence incidents (compared with 2019 data). 12 clinical departments were engaged through the reels competition and safety awareness among staff was increased. A total of 186 staff attended 24 de-escalation classes with a high degree of satisfaction, while more than 450 staff joined the MoV week, representing a 174% increase in participation. Overall, the program supported a more proactive safety culture and strengthened the capacity of nursing and support teams to sustain long-term well-being.
