Drs. George Astrakianakis and Chris McLeod have received research funding from WorkSafeBC for the project entitled Evaluating the Effectiveness of Violence Prevention Programs in Health Care.

The project will focus on violence in health care situations, which has become a major occupational health concern with health care professionals experiencing higher rates of workplace violence compared to other occupations. This project will build on existing research into effective violence prevention and occupational health and safety management, and will develop leading and lagging indicators specific the risk of violence in health care in British Columbia. The study will be conducted in collaboration and partnership with Fraser Health and the Vancouver Island Health Authority, who will provide access to occupational health data and facilitate the piloting of potential leading .

Background

• Health Care and Social Services disproportionally represents 57% of all WorkSafeBC time-loss claims due to acts of violence.
• Acts of violence also represents 11% of all time loss claims in this subsector which includes about 12% of B.C. workforce
• The B.C. health  authorities, have invested significantly in violence prevention training and other related health and safety management programs. To date there is little evidence to suggest that this investment is having the desired effect on worker safety, job satisfaction, patient safety, or on improving the delivery of care