Physical assault by patients against physiotherapists working in mental health settings

Abstract 

Objectives

There is a lack of empirical research about physical assault by patients against physiotherapists who work in mental health settings. This study aimed to ascertain the lifetime prevalence and 12-month incidence of assault by patients against physiotherapists in UK mental health settings. This research will inform the development of pre- and post-registration training programmes for physiotherapists.

Design

Postal questionnaire survey.

Participants

Members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists’ special interest group for physiotherapists working in the field of psychiatry.

Main outcome measures

Self-reported experience of physical assault by patients. Secondary outcome was self-reported training received to manage violent and aggressive patients.

Results

Questionnaires were returned by 116/178 (65%) special interest group members. Fifty-one percent (59/116) reported that they had been assaulted at work during their career, and 24% (28/116) had been assaulted by a patient in the previous 12 months. Physiotherapists in mental health settings appear to be at greater risk of assault by patients than other non-nursing clinicians.

Conclusions

Physiotherapists who work in mental health are at similar risk of physical assault by patients as their nursing colleagues, who are required by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council to receive education and training in the prevention and management of aggression and violence in their pre-registration training. The authors recommend that appropriate training should be included in pre-registration programmes for physiotherapists.

Keywords: Violence, Aggression, Assaultative behaviour, Assault, Physiotherapy, Survey