198256 Risk of occupational violence among school educators with histories of occupational and other violence: A case-control study

Sunday, November 8, 2009

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
Susan G. Gerberich, PhD , MCOHS/RIPRC/CVPC, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Andrew D. Ryan, 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
Sibel Erkal, PhD , Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Hacettepe, Ankara, Turkey
Timothy R. Church, 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
Steven J. Mongin, 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
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, 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
Introduction

Little is known about occupational violence risk for those with histories of either occupational- or non-occupational-related violence. Data were analyzed to determine the effect of histories on physical assault (PA) against educators (kindergarten-grade 12).

Methods

From a state license database, 26,000 randomly selected educators were screened for eligibility by mailed questionnaire (6,469 eligible). Phase-1 (12-month recall) identified eligible cases (n=290 involving student perpetrators – 95%) and controls (n=867); Phase-2 (case-control – identified exposures one-month prior to PA and randomly selected month, respectively). Confounders were selected for multivariable logistic regression using directed acyclic graphs; re-weighting adjusted for potential biases.

Results

Response was 84% for each phase. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals identified increased risks for histories (yes,no) of work- (17.33, 11.43-26.27) or non-work-related PA (2.03, 1.19-3.46). Compared with 0 times, risks increased with occupational PA histories, 1-3 (14.98, 9.71-23.12), 4-10 (21.53, 10.48-44.24), and 10+ times (43.69, 17.14-111.32) and non-occupational PA, 1-3 (1.76, 0.99-3.13) and 4-10+ (7.83, 1.67-36.69). Risks also increased with histories of occupational: threats, 1-3 (3.56, 2.38-5.32), 4-10 (5.58, 3.11-10.01), and 10+ times (11.78, 6.36-21.80); sexual harassment 1-3 (1.93, 1.27-2.93) and 4+ times (3.52, 1.57-7.92); verbal abuse, 1-3 (2.07, 1.34-3.19), 4-10 (3.22, 1.88-5.50), and 10+ times (6.62, 3.97-11.03); or bullying, 1-10 (1.51, 1.05-2.17), and 10+ times (8.09, 4.02-16.29). For non work-related histories, risks increased for: threats, 1-3 (1.66, 1.07-2.57) and 4+ versus 0 times (2.98, 1.09-8.14), and verbal abuse (1.51, 1.09-2.09) or bullying (1.70, 1.16-2.50) (yes,no).

Conclusions

Opportunities for further research and intervention-targeting among those at high risk are suggested

Learning Objectives:
1) Identify the risks of occupational physical assault against educators with histories of occupational- and non-occupational assault. 2) Discuss the risks of occupational physical assault against educators associated with prior frequency history of both occupational and non-occupational assault. 3) Specify the methods utilized to minimize bias.

Keywords: Violence, Injury Risk

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Assistant Professor; extensive research experience including involvement on the current study
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.

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