TY - JOUR

T1 - Contextualizing Violence Prevention

T2 - How Contextual Aspects Influence the Implementation of a Violence Prevention Initiative in Prisons and Psychiatry

AU - Jaspers, Sofie Østergaard

AU - Andersen, Dorte Raaby

AU - Karlsen, Iben Louise

AU - Pedersen, Anna Helene Meldgaard

AU - Andersen, Lars Peter Sønderbo

AU - Conway, Paul Maurice

AU - Aust, Birgit

AU - Dyreborg, Johnny

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - The aim of this study was to investigate which contextual aspects and mechanisms are decisive in the implementation of an integrated, tailored intervention to prevent violence and threats of violence from patients or inmates towards employees in psychiatric units and in prisons and detention centers. Based on a standardized implementation degree assessment of fidelity, reach and dose delivered, we selected two workplace cases from each sector, one with a high and one with a low implementation degree.Using a realist evaluation framework, we conducted a thematic analysis of the four selected workplace cases to identify prevalent contextual aspects and mechanisms underlying the implementation degree. We found that prioritization, synergy with parallel change processes, and intervention fit, were decisive mechanisms for the successful implementation of the intervention. We also found that lack of resources (staff instability, insufficient time, poor mental resources) and resource-demanding parallel change processes, were contextual aspects that “blocked” all mechanisms. That is, when resources were not available, none of the mechanisms for implementing the intervention was activated. Our findings point to the importance of investigating the roleof contextual aspects when assessing the effectiveness of organizational interventions.

AB - The aim of this study was to investigate which contextual aspects and mechanisms are decisive in the implementation of an integrated, tailored intervention to prevent violence and threats of violence from patients or inmates towards employees in psychiatric units and in prisons and detention centers. Based on a standardized implementation degree assessment of fidelity, reach and dose delivered, we selected two workplace cases from each sector, one with a high and one with a low implementation degree.Using a realist evaluation framework, we conducted a thematic analysis of the four selected workplace cases to identify prevalent contextual aspects and mechanisms underlying the implementation degree. We found that prioritization, synergy with parallel change processes, and intervention fit, were decisive mechanisms for the successful implementation of the intervention. We also found that lack of resources (staff instability, insufficient time, poor mental resources) and resource-demanding parallel change processes, were contextual aspects that “blocked” all mechanisms. That is, when resources were not available, none of the mechanisms for implementing the intervention was activated. Our findings point to the importance of investigating the roleof contextual aspects when assessing the effectiveness of organizational interventions.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - violence prevention

KW - organizational intervention

KW - realistic evaluation

KW - context evaluation

KW - implementation

KW - psychiatry

KW - prison and probation service

KW - Denmark

U2 - 10.16993/sjwop.141

DO - 10.16993/sjwop.141

M3 - Journal article

VL - 7

SP - 1

EP - 16

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology

SN - 2002-2867

IS - 1

ER -