Objectives: To determine strategies to mitigate workplace violence in a Jamaican hospital through collaboration with hospital employees.

Methods: Two focus groups of 22 members of staff representing eight disciplines. One group consisted of eight females employees while the other had eight females and six males. Each participant had been at the institution for more than five years. The discussions were facilitated by the same moderator and a semi-structured guide was used to stimulate sharing of experiences with violence at work.

Results: All staff had experienced workplace violence, with A&E and security staff at greater risk for physical violence. Nurses were more likely to experience verbal than physical abuse. Patients were more likely to exhibit violent behaviors following long waiting periods. A lack of understanding of medical jargon, the triage system utilized in A&E, and the necessity to refer clients to Primary Health Care facilities sometimes resulted in violent behaviour. Underreporting of violent incidents was common as invariably no action was taken. Strategies to mitigate violence included improved customer service, employment of additional staff to adequately deliver services, implementation of workplace violence policies and educating the public on proper use of the healthcare system, thereby reducing overcrowding in A&E.

Conclusion: There is a need to raise the level of awareness regarding workplace violence among health sector workers in a Jamaican hospital. Additionally, workplace violence can be mitigated through education and by the implementation of multiple strategies using a collaborative approach among employees, health sector administrators and policy makers.