Residents' perspectives on violence and personal safety in the emergency department

Abstract

Study objective: To assess emergency medicine residents' perspectives on violence and personal safety in the emergency department.

Design and participants: Survey of all 461 current emergency medicine residents and 1992 graduates in the 13 emergency medicine residency programs in California.

Results: Eighty-five percent of residents responded to the survey questionnaire. Sixty-two percent of respondents worry about their own safety while working in the ED. The majority of these respondents (72%), however, most fear a needlestick injury from an HIV-positive patient. Fifty percent of the respondents believe that their hospital/residency programs do not provide adequate security in the ED. Respondents overwhelmingly favor some form of gun control legislation.

Conclusion: Violence and personal safety in the ED are major concerns of emergency medicine residents.