REPLICATED DECLINES IN ASSAULT RATES AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASSAULTED-STAFF-ACTION-PROGRAM

A program to address the psychological sequelae of patients' assaults on psychiatric health care staff-the Assaulted Staff Action Program (A SAP)-was previously shown to be associated with a notable decline in t he assault rate at the state hospital where it was implemented. This s tudy examined whether these findings would be replicated when ASAP was introduced at three additional state hospitals. Assault rates during the three months before implementation were compared with rates in the first four quarters after implementation, Each facility reported a si milar significant decline in rates during the first quarter after impl ementation and no additional declines in the next three quarters.