Gewaltvorfälle in Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege – Zahlen aus der Unfallanzeigen-Statistik der Berufsgenossenschaft fur Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege (BGW)

Incidents of violence in health services and welfare – Figures from the Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege (BGW) Aim: The German social accident insurance provider for non-state institutions within the health and welfare service sectors (BGW) has published a report on frightening and violent incidents. This paper provides an overview of frightening and violent (FV) incidents in various sectors and occupational groups in the healthcare and social services sector. Based on the results, problems with data collection are highlighted and measures to optimise data quality are presented. Methods: The analysis is based on the BGW’s statistics on accidents at work lasting four or more days between 2018 and 2022. The case constellations included were incidents during work-related activities caused by fright, attack, threat or violence. The data are described for sectors, occupational groups and psychological stress reactions. Results: Between 2018 and 2022, 7.5 % of all notified workplace accidents to the BGW were FV incidents (n = 26,516). The two sectors of counselling/support and inpatient care for the elderly accounted for two thirds of FV incidents. Half of the FV incidents were attributable to nursing staff and just under a quarter to educational staff in childcare. In 12.1 % of FV incidents, the most serious injury diagnosed was a psychological stress reaction. Employees in the elderly care and counselling/support sectors had a 3 to 4 times higher risk of suffering an FV incident compared to the average for the BGW sectors. Conclusions: Occupations in the health and social services sectors are particularly affected by FV incidents in the workplace. This is also reflected in the DGUV’s statistics on accidents at work when compared with other occupations. In order to improve data quality in connection with incidents of violence, measures have been initiated at various levels, including training materials for data collection and information in accident reports. Keywords: incidents of violence – healthcare and social services sector – statistics on accidents at work – workplace accident