Authors (including presenting author) :
Dr. SW Lai, Dr. John Tam, Mr. SH Leung, Dr. YC Li
Affiliation :
Department of Family Medicine & General outpatient clinic, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Introduction :
Workplace violence had always been one of the top 3 risks at GOPCs. Conflicts between staffs and patients had occasionally escalated to verbal and rarely physical violence. Hospital Authority had long adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards workplace violence and the HA bylaw helps to strengthen this stance. However, prevention is always better than cure. Apart from the essential environmental measures e.g. installation of safety alarms, security cameras and displaying notices, putting up photographs to instil a sense of serenity at high stress area may help to alleviate some of the tension between patients and staffs.
Objectives :
This project aimed at utilizing photography to instil a sense of serenity at high stress area e.g. consultation rooms at GOPCs to reduce workplace violence.
Methodology :
A photo competition with the theme “Serenity” was held in August 2018. 12 photos out of 159 entries were selected by a panel. Successful photographs were printed and framed. 3 different sets (each with a set of 4) of photographs were put up in 6 of the consultation rooms at Yau Ma Tei Jockey Club GOPC in late October 2018. A formal questionnaire to collect feedback from patients and the attending doctors would be launched in Feb 2019. The workplace violence rate 1 year before and after the launch of the project would also be compared.
Result & Outcome :
General feedback from doctors and patients were positive. They praised the choice of photographs and the sense of calmness that was introduced to the consultation rooms. In general, doctors felt that they were less tense, and the patients were less agitated. Putting up appropriate photographs at high stress workplace area may be a value-added adjunct to the usual environmental measures in tackling workplace violence.
Co-location with:
