Preventing injury from child aggression: a single-case evaluation of the effects of staff-worn protective equipment.

OBJECTIVE This single-case study of a boy with autism and high-frequency aggression concerned the effects of classroom teachers wearing protective equipment (gloves) on injuries produced to their hands as well as injuries sustained to non-protected areas of the body. METHODS A reversal-type design was used to evaluate the effects of protective equipment relative to a baseline (no protective equipment) phase, a low-demand activity phase without protective equipment and a low-demand activity phase with protective equipment. RESULTS The protective equipment intervention eliminated hand injuries, did not result in other types of injuries, was not associated with increased aggression and was rated favourably by the classroom teachers. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that staff-worn protective equipment may be a valuable component of comprehensive clinical safety programmes within service settings for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.