An evaluation of staff training in psychological techniques for the management of patient aggression

Abstract

Training for staff working with violent patients is frequently recommended, sometimes implemented, but rarely objectively evaluated. In this longitudinal study 47 nurses attending a training day to learn strategies for coping with violent psychiatric patients were compared with 108 non-attending control group subjects. The rate of assaults on staff on wards taking part in the study was 31% lower after implementation of the training and wards sending a majority of staff to the training experienced a particularly significant reduction in assaults. The effectiveness of this 1-day training package is discussed.