SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new study has confirmed that screening adolescents using the Aggressive Behavior Risk Assessment Tool for Emergency Departments (ABRAT™-ED), combined with visual signage for high-risk patients, significantly reduces violent incidents during emergency department (ED) visits.
Among 8,658 adolescents included in the landmark study, these interventions resulted in a 34% reduction in violent events compared to baseline observations. The findings, published in the Journal of Forensic Nursing, demonstrate that early identification and simple, targeted communication measures can play a powerful role in protecting healthcare workers and patients alike. Read in Journal of Forensic Nursing here.
Key Study Details
The study focused on adolescents aged 10 to 18 years who visited two emergency departments in Michigan, USA. Researchers used the validated ABRAT™-ED screening tool to identify those at high risk of violent behavior and implemented two intervention phases after a baseline observation period:
1. Phase 1 – Targeted Signage Posting:
Adolescents with an ABRAT™-ED score ≥5 were flagged as high-risk, and a burgundy-colored triangle with a white exclamation mark was posted at the bedside or outside the patient’s room.
Result: Violence rate decreased by 34% compared to baseline (Relative Risk [RR]=0.66; p=0.035).
2. Phase 2 – Targeted Signage + Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) Huddles:
A proactive, multidisciplinary BERT huddle was added for high-risk patients.
Result: No additional statistically significant reduction compared to Phase 1 (RR=0.80; p=0.241).
ABRAT™-ED Validated Screening Tool and Guided Intervention Were Key to Success
The study concluded that ABRAT™-ED screening combined with signage posting is an effective, low-cost intervention for preventing adolescent violence in emergency departments.
“Signage posting for high-risk adolescents is an effective and low-cost intervention that alerts staff to utilize their safety training, such as speaking calmly and preparing for de-escalation,” said Son Chae Kim, PhD, RN, Corresponding Author and Professor at Point Loma Nazarene University.
This is the first study to demonstrate an effective, evidence-based strategy targeting potentially violent adolescents identified by a validated screening tool. These findings are especially significant given the current climate of increasing workplace violence in hospitals, underscoring the urgent need for validated prevention strategies that have demonstrated measurable impact.
A Growing Crisis in Hospital Violence
Healthcare workers face an alarming rise in workplace violence across the United States. According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social service workers now account for nearly three-quarters of all workplace assaults, with emergency departments identified as one of the most high-risk settings.
Hospitals are under increasing pressure to comply with The Joint Commission standards requiring systematic workplace violence prevention programs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also quires hospitals to have a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program as part of their Conditions of Participation. In this regulatory environment, validated screening tools like ABRAT™-ED provide hospitals with a proven, practical solution for proactively identifying risk and protecting both staff and patients.
About Son Chae Kim, PhD, LLC
Son Chae Kim, PhD, RN, is the founder of Son Chae Kim, PhD, LLC, and the copyright holder of the Aggressive Behavior Risk Assessment Tools (ABRAT™-ED and ABRAT™-H). In collaboration with colleagues across the U.S. and Canada, Dr. Kim has developed and validated ABRAT™ and VEST™ over the past decade to help healthcare organizations prevent workplace violence.
Previous studies have demonstrated their broad effectiveness:
– ABRAT™-ED: Prevented violence in emergency departments in a study of more than 77,000 patients. Read in Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians here.
– ABRAT™-H: Prevented violence and physical assaults among hospitalized patients in a study involving over 7,000 patients. Read press release here.
– VEST™: A useful and relevant tool for consistent collection and reporting of various violence types and severities of incidents. Read in Journal of Nursing Administration here.
Contacts
Name: Ken Martin
Organization: Son Chae Kim, PhD, LLC
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 760-330-1630
Website: www.sckim.com
