In recent years, emergency departments (EDs) have been grappling with the challenge of accurately identifying patients who have sustained injuries due to violence. These cases often go underreported, leading to missed opportunities for providing crucial psychosocial support. Herein lies the critical role of Nurse-led Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programmes (HVIPs). These programs are designed specifically to fill the gaps left by traditional care settings, enabling healthcare providers to break down barriers of non-disclosure and adequately assist patients who are victims of violence. This study explores the effectiveness of HVIPs in recognizing and supporting these patients, drawing comparisons between hospitals with and without such interventions.
Investigating the Impact of HVIPs
The research employs a comprehensive longitudinal study spanning from 2012 to 2024, involving over 6.7 million cases, to investigate the effect of HVIPs on cases identified as violence-related. Utilizing multi-level logistic difference-in-difference models, the study compared two Welsh hospitals equipped with HVIPs to nine control hospitals lacking such resources. The findings revealed a significant rise in violence-related case disclosures in hospitals employing HVIPs. Specifically, a 37% increase was observed in Cardiff, while Swansea experienced a 19% lift, emphasizing a strong correlation between HVIP implementation and the recognition of violence-related injuries.
Patterns in Non-disclosure
Further analysis delved into the demographic characteristics of patients who benefited from HVIPs. Younger males, individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, and those of black or mixed ethnic backgrounds often remained undetected in control settings. These findings underline the necessity for targeted interventions to address specific vulnerabilities that may hinder disclosure.
Key insights from the study illuminate vital trends:
–
Hospitals with HVIPs exhibit significantly higher detection rates of violence-related injuries.
–
Certain demographics, particularly younger males and ethnic minorities, show higher nondisclosure rates.
–
Socioeconomic factors like residential deprivation contribute to underreporting of violence exposure.
The discernible outcome of integrating HVIPs into emergency department protocols is a more equitable healthcare framework that effectively identifies and caters to the needs of violence-exposed individuals. Insights from patterns of non-disclosure highlight the importance of program implementation to reduce healthcare inequalities and improve patient outcomes. As healthcare professionals prioritize these interventions, they must consider tailoring solutions that address the varied and complex backgrounds of their patient population, thus fostering a system better equipped to manage the diverse needs of those affected by violence. Continuing to expand these programs will likely play a pivotal role in transforming how emergency care addresses and supports individuals facing violence-related challenges.
This article has been prepared with the assistance of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more details, please refer to our Terms and Conditions. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author.
