Exploration of Aggression/Violence Among Adult Patients Admitted for Short-term, Acute-care Mental Health Services.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to explore and describe: (a) the prevalence of incidents of aggression and violence among patients, including frequency, kinds and severity of incidents of among patients; target of the aggression; (b) situational factors including time of location and time of event; and (c) staff interventions. We describe the relationships among variables to answer the following research questions: (1) What factors are associated with incidents of aggression and violence, and (2) are factors modifiable? METHODS: The exploratory descriptive study used data collected by retrospective chart review over a three-year period; the dates of January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013. A medical record was included if it met the following criteria: 1) person ages 18-75years; 2) admitted to the psychiatric mental care unit (PMCU) during the designated time frame; 3) the length of stay was up to 7days; and 4) during this time the person made a verbal threat of violence or exhibited violent behavior towards property, self, another patient, or a member of the hospital staff. We examined data for a relationship among score on risk assessment items, sociodemographic factors, and outcome variables. We employed a variety of statistical analytic approaches to describe our data and uncover relationships among variables. RESULTS: There were 132 incidents of aggression/violence between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2013Of the 93 patients, 68% (n=63) were male and 32% (n=30) were female. Their ages ranged from 20 to 57years with a mean age of 37 for females and 39 for males. Significant associations were found between type of intervention and patients' admitting diagnoses: Χ2 (5, N=97)=11.603, p=0.004. Significant associations were also found with regard to drug history, Χ2(1, n=96)=4.673, p=0.03 and history of violence, Χ2(1, N=91)=7.618, p=0.006. Key variables were target (the staff) and location (the hallway). Multiple factor analysis yielded inconclusive results, as numerous factors were identified and variable loadings were weak possibly due to the small sample size and high number of relevant variables. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study can be used to improve high quality care for hospitalized patients with acute mental health problems. All incidents of aggression/violence cannot realistically be prevented. Staff must stay vigilant for self-safety. The hallway may be modified to reduce visual and auditory stimuli.

Building a resident research program in emergency medicine.

Residency training programs requirements state, "Residents should participate in scholarly activity." However, there is little consensus regarding how best to achieve these requirements. The objective of this study is to implement a resident research program that emphasizes resident participation in quantitative or qualitative empirical work. A three-step program "Think, Do, Write" roughly follows the 3 years of the residency. During the first phase, the resident chooses a topic, formulates a hypothesis, and completes standard research certifications. Phase 2 involves obtaining Institutional Review Board approval, and conducting the study. The final phase entails analyzing and interpreting the data, and writing an abstract to present during an annual research day. Residents are encouraged to submit their projects for presentation at scientific conferences and for publication. Multiple departmental resources are available, including a Resident Research Fund, and full support of the faculty. Prior to the new program, most scholarly activity consisted of case reports, book chapters, review articles, or other miscellaneous projects; only 27 % represented empirical studies. Starting in 2012, the new program was fully implemented, resulting in notable growth in original empirical works among residents. Currently there is almost 100 % participation in studies, and numerous residents have presented at national conferences, and have peer-reviewed publications. With a comprehensive and supported program in place, emergency medicine residents proved capable of conducting high-quality empirical research within their relatively limited time. Overall, residents developed valuable skills in research design and statistical analysis, and greatly increased their productivity as academic and clinical researchers.

Sensory stimuli as obstacles to emergency care for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Visits to the emergency department (ED) are stressful for any patient and pose special challenges and potential barriers to care for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In addition, people (both children and adults) with ASD differ in their perception of, or responses to, environmental stimuli. Some people with ASD present with sensory defensiveness that is environmentally moderated, but there is a gap in our knowledge about patterns or thresholds of stimulation that kindle behavioral responses. We systematically recorded visual and auditory stimuli in an ED. Data were collected in four areas, hallway, doorway of waiting room, chair in waiting room, and treatment room, over several weeks and times of day. The mean light intensity ranged from 127 to 184 lux. There were significant differences (F = 16.77, df = 3, p > 0.001) between the five ED locations. Mean sound levels ranged from a high of 63.291 dB in the waiting room chair to a low of 51.289 dB in the treatment room. The highest consistent level of noise was recorded while sitting in the waiting room chair (60.657-63.291 dB). The findings suggest significant differences in light and sound intensity in common ED locations, with the highest mean readings of light and noise in the waiting areas. The differences and descriptions of light and sound patterns support the need for additional studies in both the measurement of the ED environment and its role in stimulating sensory defensiveness in people with ASD.

Meteorological Variables Associated with Stroke.

To elucidate relationships between meteorological variables and incidence of stroke, we studied patients diagnosed with stroke after presenting to the emergency department (May 1, 2010-August 8, 2011). Patient demographics and medical data were reviewed retrospectively with regional meteorological data. Across 467 days, 134 stroke events were recorded on 114 days. On stroke days, maximum temperature (max T) and atmospheric pressure (AP) combined were a significant predictor of stroke (max T odds ratio (OR) = 1.014, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.003-1.026, and P = 0.04; AP: OR = 1.033, 95% CI = 0.997-1.071, and P = 0.02). When the patient could identify the hour of the stroke, average temperature (avg T) was significantly higher than nonstroke hours (18.2°C versus 16.16°C, P = 0.04). Daily fluctuations in AP and avg T also had significant effects on stroke incidence (AP: OR = 0.629, 95% CI = 0.512-0.773, and P = 0.0001; avg T OR = 1.1399, 95% CI = 1.218-606, and P = 0.0001). Patient age, stroke history, body mass index, ethnicity, and sex were further contributors to stroke risk. Temperature, atmospheric pressure, and certain physiological conditions likely play roles in weather-related stroke susceptibility. The mechanisms driving these associations are not fully understood.

Investigation of a safety-engineered device to prevent needlestick injury: why has not StatLock stuck?

OBJECTIVE: This article sought to define whether an alternative safety-engineered device (SED) could help prevent needlestick injury (NSI) in healthcare workers (HCWs) who place central venous catheters (CVCs). DESIGN: The study involved three phases: (1) A retrospective analysis of deidentified occupational health records from our tertiary care urban US hospital to clearly identify NSI risk and rates to an HCW during invasive catheter placement; (2) 95 residents were surveyed regarding their knowledge and experience with NSIs and SEDs; (3) A random sample of six residents participated in a focus group session discussing barriers to the use of SED. SETTING: A single urban US tertiary care teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective analysis of NSI to HCWs in a tertiary care urban US hospital was conducted over a 4-year period (July 2007-June 2011). Ninety-five residents from specialties that often place CVC during training (surgery, surgical subspecialties, internal medicine, anaesthesia and emergency medicine) were surveyed regarding their experience with NSIs and SEDs. A random sample of six residents participated in a focus group session discussing barriers to the use of SED. RESULTS: 314 NSIs were identified via occupational health records. 16% (21 of 131) of NSIs occurring in residents and fellows occurred during the securement of an invasive catheter such as a CVC. If an SED device had been used, the 5.25 NSIs/year could have been avoided. Each NSI occurring in an HCW incurred at least $2723 in charges. Thus, utilisation of the SED could have saved a minimum of $57 183 over the 4-year period. CONCLUSIONS: SEDs are currently available and can be used as an alternative to sharps. If safety and efficacy can be demonstrated, then implementation of such devices can significantly reduce the number of NSIs.

Age-related alterations in GABA(A) receptor subunits in the nonhuman primate hippocampus.

Pharmacological studies have documented that altered drug responses, particularly to benzodiazepines, are common in elderly populations. While numerous factors may contribute to changes in drug response, age-related alterations in the molecular composition of GABA(A) receptors may be a key factor in regulating these responses. We employed quantitative densitometry to examine the cytological features and density of highly prevalent hippocampal GABA(A) receptor subunits (alpha1 and beta2/3) in young and aged rhesus monkeys. alpha1 and beta2/3 subunit immunostaining was differentially distributed throughout the hippocampus. In addition, beta2/3 immunolabeling in aged monkeys was characterized by marked intersubject variability in labeling intensity, with dramatic reductions present in 3 of 5 samples. alpha1 immunolabeling in aged monkeys was significantly reduced in the CA2 and CA3 subregions, and in hilus/polymorphic layer of the dentate gyrus. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that not only are GABA(A) receptor subunits differentially distributed throughout the hippocampus, but they are also differentially altered with increased age--changes that may have an important impact on the binding properties of GABA(A) receptor pharmacological agents.