Fazzone PA, Barloon LF, McConnell SJ, Chitty JA, et al.
Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.). Date of publication 2000 Jan 1;volume 17(1):43-52.
1. Public Health Nurs. 2000 Jan-Feb;17(1):43-52. doi:
10.1046/j.1525-1446.2000.00043.x.
Personal safety, violence, and home health.
Fazzone PA(1), Barloon LF, McConnell SJ, Chitty JA.
Author information:
(1)The University of Kansas, School of Nursing, Kansas City 66160-7502, USA.
pfazzone@kumc.edu
A critical issue facing the health care industry today is the potential impact
of community and interpersonal violence on home health care. The purposes of
this study were to (1) serve as a source for understanding the personal safety
risk issues facing home care staff in a large Midwest region and its surrounding
rural areas; (2) provide an understanding of how perceived threats to personal
safety may impact patient care and patient outcomes; (3) identify strategies for
increasing the personal safety of direct care staff; and (4) identify
organizational, educational, and procedural issues that impede or enhance staff
safety. A triangulated qualitative design was used including focus groups,
in-depth individual interviews, critical event narratives, and a participant
self-report form. The study used a purposive sample consisting of 5 men and 56
women who were either administrators or direct care staff from 13 home health
agencies. Seven major themes emerged: (1) unsafe conditions that direct care
staff must face; (2) organizational and administrative issues that impede or
promote the personal safety of staff; (3) ethical issues staff face daily; (4)
protective factors associated with maintaining safety; (5) issues of gender,
race, age, and experience; (6) education and training; and (7) the potential
impact that staff's fear of interpersonal and community violence can have on
patient care and patient outcomes.
DOI: 10.1046/j.1525-1446.2000.00043.x
PMID: 10675052 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
