Authors (including presenting author) :
LAM, M.Y. (1) (2); CHAU, L.S. (1); WONG, S.F.F. (1); CHOI, T.H.W. (2); LEUNG, C.Y. (1); WONG, C.Y. (3); YAN, L.W. (1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Psychiatry, Shatin Hospital, (2) Department of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital (3) Department of Psychiatry, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction :
Sexual harassment/ assault in healthcare settings arose attention worldwide as the #MeToo movement encouraged victims to voice out. Up to one-third of mental health professionals encountered sexual harassment/ assault in their career life. In addition to physical injuries and psychological distresses, some victims of sexual harassments/ assaults might present with employment-related effects such as burnout and withdrawal from work. However, under-reporting of sexual harassment/ assault is common as healthcare staff believed that it is useless and unimportant. In addition, they also reluctant to label the sexual behaviors of patient with cognitive impairment as sexual harassment/ assault. Scholar suggested that it is crucial to foster a supportive and shielding culture in healthcare institutes for prevention and management. Furthermore, anti-harassment/ assault training shall be introduced to clinical staff to raise their awareness on the pre-existing policies, adaptive management and coping amongst clinical staff.
Objectives :
To enhance nursing staff’s knowledge and confidence on the assessment and management of patients with sexual harassment/ assault risk; To reduce the incidence of sexual harassment/ assault; To promote patient’s satisfaction in hospital.
Methodology :
An anti-harassment/ assault educational program was designed and implemented in the inpatient psychiatric units of Shatin Hospital. A total of four monthly simulated training workshops were implemented to all psychiatric in-patient units of SH started from October 2019. The training focused on enhancing nursing staff’s skills and knowledge in the assessment and management of sexual harassment/ assault risk. Debriefing session would be held after each scenario to reflect the learned skills and effects. A pretest-posttest design was adopted to assess both nursing staff’s knowledge and attitude towards the handling of sexual harassment/ assault in the working place. Two sets of questionnaires were distributed in October 2019 and January 2020. A statistical review was conducted to identify the incidence of sexual harassment/ assault, injury on duty and compliance rate. Feedbacks were collected from both patients and nursing staff.
Result & Outcome :
Most of the nursing staff reflected that they had gain more experience in handling sexual harassment/ assault from the training program. With different case scenarios in simulated training, making the nurses became more knowledgeable and confident to assess the risk. They reflected that the simulated program enhanced the management skills of risk with prompt decision and action. In 2020, the annual sexual related incidence dropped to zero. 97% nursing staff would recommend the workshop to colleagues because the program was applicable to their work and a better identification and management of risk. Nurse and patient reflected they felt joyful and satisfied in a safe ward environment that their satisfaction rates were over 95%. Most of the staff were lacking experience nor confidence in handling sexual harassment/ assault in clinical settings. Delay response might be resulted and the consequence was far-reaching. With the simulated educational program, nursing staff became confident in handling clinical situation even they had not encountered before. Early induction of preventive measures with better identification of risk, leading to not only reduction in physical injures but also psychological distress and hence reduction in the rate of incidence report. It promoted a safe ward environment to both healthcare professionals and patients with the reduction of sexual harassment/ assault incidence. The educational program successfully facilitated the management of sexual harassment/ assault in psychiatric in-patient setting. It promoted nurse’s and patient’s satisfaction in hospital with the reduction in incidence.
