OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics of violence events occurred at the Emergency Department in the hospital and to provide evidence for prevention and control of the problem.

METHODSSurveillance on injuries was performed on those patients who first visited the Emergency Department in a general hospital in Shantou from January 1st 2000 to December 31th 2002.

RESULTSA total number of 11 472 injured patients registered in a 3-year surveillance program at the Emergency Department. Among the patients under surveillance, 29.0% of them were injured by violence events. The ratio of male to female was 3.8:1. The high risk age groups of violence patients were 15 - 44 years (77.1%) with workers as the majority. Home was the most common place for suicide/self-hurt (occupied 42.2%), and highway seemed to be the most common place for homicide/be injured (occupied 44.7%) to occur. Pre-hospital care for the injured patients was mostly taken care by other people (80.1%). Opening trauma appeared to be the most common injury caused by the violence.

CONCLUSIONOur study on violence surveillance program at the Emergency Department provided information for identifying the main problems and population at high risk. Violence surveillance in the emergency department of different areas needs to be carried out in order to take preventive measures accordingly.