Patient factors associated with incidents of aggression in a general inpatient setting

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To determine patient factors associated with aggressive (code grey) events in the setting of a metropolitan hospital during a six-month period, to inform screening and prevention practices. Background: Patient aggression continues to place nurses and patients at risk. Nurses need to be able to identify situations that are likely to escalate into aggression in order to ensure their own safety and the quality of care they can provide. Research has focussed on emergency departments and psychiatric units. Approaches that are appropriate for these settings may not fit for the general inpatient setting. Design: A structured audit and epidemiological analysis of hospital popula..