The Relationship Between Patient-Staff Ratio and Reported Patient Incidents

5,375 inpatient psychiatric center work shifts over 3 years in 14 high-incident wards were examined. At least 1 incident, e.g. assaults, suicides, abuse of patients by staff, occurred during nearly 8% of shifts. More incidents occurred on the day shift & on 2 specific wards, confirming a relationship between incidents & time of day, & incidents & patient characteristics & milieu. No relationship between patient-staff ratio & the occurrence of incidents was found. (23 refs.)