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Table 3 Situational characteristics

From: Perpetrator and situational characteristics associated with security alerts in regional Australian emergency departments

Situational characteristics of 151a incidents

 

n (%)

 

n (%)

Day of week (n = 151)

 

Triage category (n = 93)

 

 Mon

21 (13.9)

Category 1: Immediate life threat

0 (0.0)

 Tues

15 (9.9)

Category 2: Emergency

12 (12.9)

 Wed

18 (11.9)

Category 3: Urgent

52 (55.9)

 Thu

23 (15.2)

Category 4: Semi-urgent

25 (26.9)

 Fri

25 (16.6)

Category 5: Non-urgent

4 (4.3)

 Sat

24 (15.9)

Time in ED prior to alert (n = 93)

 

 Sun

25 (16.6)

< 60 min

24 (25.8)

Shift type (n = 143)

 

1-4 h

42 (45.2)

 Early (0700-1530)

42 (29.4)

> 4 h

27 (29.0)

 Late (1530-2200)

59 (41.3)

Nature of incident (n = 133)b

 

 Night (2200-0700)

42 (29.4)

Verbal violence

96 (72.2)

Location of event (n = 114)

 

Physical violence

70 (52.6)

 Main ED cubicle

39 (34.2)

Absconding

28 (21.1)

 Waiting room

22 (19.3)

Damage to property

18 (13.5)

 Triage area

18 (15.8)

Self-harm

14 (10.5)

 Resuscitation bay

8 (7.0)

Weapon (n = 132)

 

 Ambulance waiting area

7 (6.1)

In possession

21 (15.9)

 Hallway

7 (6.1)

Type of weapon (n = 21)

 

 Other

13 (11.4)

Near object

13 (61.9)

Type of perpetrator (n = 131)

 

Other

8 (38.1)

 Patient

123 (93.9)

Injuries (n = 133)

 

 Bystander

8 (6.1)

Incidents where Injury occurred

26 (19.5)

Bystanders present (n = 127)

 

Injured person (n = 27)c

 

 Yes

24 (18.9)

Staff

21 (77.8)

 No

103 (81.1)

Patient

6 (22.2)

Ambulance (n = 105)

 

Management (n = 128)

 

 Arrival via Ambulance

64 (61.0)

Sedation only

29 (22.7)

Police (n = 109)

 

Restraint only

10 (7.8)

 Police involvement

61 (56.0)

Sedation and restraint

23 (18.0)

  1. aCharacteristics with totals less than 151 represent missing data
  2. bCategories are not mutually exclusive
  3. cOne incident involved injuries to both staff and a patient