174013 Occupational Violence in the Schools: Impact of Environmental Factors

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 8:35 AM

Susan G. Gerberich, PhD , MCOHS/RIRRC/CVPC, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Nancy M. Nachreiner, PhD, MPH , Reg Inj Prev Res Center/Center Violence Prev and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Andrew D. Ryan, MS , Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Timothy R. Church, PhD , Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Steven J. Mongin, MS , Regional Injury Prevention Research Center, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Patricia M. McGovern, PhD, MPH , Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Mindy S. Geisser, MS , Reg Inj Prev Res Center/Center Violence Prev and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Gavin D. Watt, BS , Reg Inj Prev Res Center/Center Violence Prev and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Denise M. Feda, PhD , Reg Inj Prev Res Center/Center Violence Prev and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Starr K. Sage, MPH , Reg Inj Prev Res Center/Center Violence Prev and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Evette Pinder, MPH , Reg Inj Prev Res Center/Center Violence Prev and Control, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Silver Spring, MD
Introduction

While teachers are known to be at high risk for physical assault, little is known about relevant risk factors. Data were analyzed to determine the effect of reported environmental exposures on assaults against educators (kindergarten-grade 12).

Methods

From the Minnesota license database, 26,000 randomly selected educators were screened for eligibility by mailed questionnaire; 6,180 were eligible. Phase-1 (12-month recall) identified eligible cases (n=290) and controls (n=867) and violent event characteristics; Phase-2 (case-control - one-month recall prior to assault and randomly selected month, respectively) enabled identification of environmental exposures. Confounders were selected for multiple logistic regression analyses using directed ayclic graphs; reweighting adjusted for response and eligibility biases.

Results

Response was 84% for each phase. Assaults were primarily student-perpetrated (95%). Respective assault risks (ORs; 95% CIs) increased for educators working in environments where they witnessed students involved in: assault 1-3 (2.68,1.80-4.00); 4-10 (6.21, 3.55-10.88), 10+ (17.31, 8.64-34.68) versus zero times; threat 1-3 (1.53, 1.02-2.32), 4-10 (3.81, 2.28-6.39), 10+ (6.94, 3.91-12.33) versus zero times; sexual harassment 1-3 (1.77, 1.21-2.61), 4-10 (2.97, 1.55-5.68), 10+ (7.20, 3.25-15.99) versus zero times; verbal abuse, 10+ versus zero times (3.52, 2.09-5.96); bullying, 10+ versus zero times (2.99, 1.79-4.99). Risks also increased for working in environments with soft versus bright lighting (1.4,1.0-2.0) and presence of physical barriers (1.5, 1.1-2.2). Decreased risk was identified with presence of easily accessible exits (0.3, 0.2-0.7).

Conclusions

Results suggest opportunities for further research and interventions to decrease risk of assaults for educators and others in school environments.

Learning Objectives:
1) Identify rate of physical assault against educators. 2) Discuss risks associated with physical assault against educators. 3) Specify methods utilized to minimize bias.

Keywords: Violence, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Principal Investigator with no conflict of interest
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Violence Epidemiology
See more of: Epidemiology