Zero tolerance approach to aggression and its impact upon mental health staff attitudes

Abstract

Objective: A natural study design provided an opportunity to investigate the effect of zero tolerance to aggression policy on health staff attitudes.

Method: This study compared a training programme used to train health service staff in aggression minimization (group 1) with a highly similar training programme that differed in that it emphasized a zero tolerance approach to aggression minimization in the health workplace (group 2). Prior to training and at follow up 117 health staff (57 from group 1, and 60 from group 2) completed a series of evaluations examining rigid attitudes toward managing aggression, tolerance for aggression and confidence and skills in dealing with aggression.

Results: The groups were equivalent with respect to age, sex and occupation. Prior to training the two groups did not differ with regard to rigidity, tolerance, confidence and skills. Both training interventions were effective in increasing confidence and skills. However, group 1 significantly decreased rigid attitudes toward the management of aggression, whereas group 2 significantly evidenced increased rigid attitudes and decreased tolerance toward aggression.

Conclusion: Zero tolerance for aggression had a negative impact on health staff attitudes in relation to managing aggression in the health workplace.