Gauging Skills of Hospital Security Personnel : A Statistically-Driven , Questionnaire-Based Approach

Abstract

Abstract:Objectives: This study aims to gauge the technical and soft skills of the hospital security personnel so as to enable prioritization of their training needs. Methodology:A cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted in December 2011. Two separate predesigned and pretested questionnaires were used for gauging soft skills and technical skills of the security personnel. Extensive statistical analysis, including Multivariate Analysis (Pillai-Bartlett trace along with Multi-factorial ANOVA) and Post-hoc Tests (Bonferroni Test) was applied. Results:The 143 participants performed better on the soft skills front with an average score of 6.43 and standard deviation of 1.40. The average technical skills score was 5.09 with a standard deviation of 1.44. The study avowed a need for formal hands on training with greater emphasis on technical skills. Multivariate analysis of the available data further helped in identifying 20 security personnel who should be prioritized for soft skills training and a group of 36 security personnel who should receive maximum attention during technical skills training. Conclusion:This statistically driven approach can be used as a prototype by healthcare delivery institutions worldwide, after situation specific customizations, to identify the training needs of any category of healthcare staff. IntroductionSecurity is a major concern for any public institution, but hospitals and other medical centres present planners with a unique challenge. Beyond the ethical responsibility to keep patients and staff safe, the abundance of expensive medical equipment and potentially harmful drugs also puts medical facilities at a heightened risk of theft, whether pre-planned or a simple act of opportunism. (1) The critical assets of a hospitalits people, property, information and reputationwarrant security of utmost quality and reputation. Indeed hospital security is unique, but with good planning, it can be optimally enhanced. (2) Moreover, various studies have shown that patient satisfaction is directly influenced by the security personnel of a healthcare institution. (3) In addition, hospital security staff also plays an imperative role in many health promotion policy implementations. (4) Thus security is now considered to be a core module in leading hospitals. There is a good set budget and there is an increase in the need for security staff that can handle full-fledged operations and provide a relaxed environment in a hospital. (5) Though numerous options in hospital security systems viz. high-tech, low-tech and even notech are available in the market, none of them will give desired results without an effective backup of trained and motivated hospital security personnel. Low employee morale, poor training and inadequate supervision are handmaidens of poor hospital security. These are most probably responsible for more wastage of security resources than are any other factors. The situation becomes worse as in most of the hospitals, training of hospital security personnel is too often...

Beyond empathy training for practitioners: Cultivating empathic healthcare systems and leadership

“…Porters, healthcare assistants, and even security guards are all likely to have a therapeutic and empathy‐enhancing effect 84‐86 . Porters 87 and security guards 88 have identified the need for training in communication skills; this can only have an empathy‐enhancing effect. Unfortunately, many cleaners, porters, and healthcare assistants feel under‐appreciated, 89 and treated without dignity 84,85,90 .…”