September

Image, it seems, continues to be an important part of interactive perceptions. For instance, I think we would all feel a little uncomfortable if the two people sitting in the cockpit of the Boeing 747 were dressed in shorts and Gold’s Gym tank tops. Even forgetting for the moment that the standard pilot’s uniform is more reminiscent of a parking lot comissionaire than a professional aviator, they just look more competent wearing the uniform.

Every occupation, it appears, has its difficult side. When I have been presented with a tricky situation, I have often thought how much simpler it would be to chuck the job of medicine and go back to the land—sowing the seed and reaping the harvest. No tough choices; simply accepting what nature throws your way.

Preventing and managing aggressive behavior in health care settings is an educational and training area that has been neglected in Canada. The Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia published a handbook called Preventing Violence in Health Care: Five Steps to an Effective Program in 2000. A key reference for all health care settings, it uses a five-step approach:

Introduction

Introduction