Objective:

To assess the ethical acceptability of the intervention introducing routine use of Violence risk screening-10 (V-RISK-10) in two psychiatric emergency units in Malmö, Sweden.

Approach:

• Methodology: Semi-structured interviews with developers and staff (n=6) were analyzed using content analysis, focusing on ethics and ethicality based on a theoretical framework of acceptability.

Key Findings:

• Respondents expressed positive views on V-RISK-10's potential for uniform and fair assessments.
• Concerns were raised regarding the accuracy and interpretation of results and their implications for risk management.
• The ethical acceptability of the intervention was perceived as dependent on balancing individual and collective interests.

Interpretation:

The findings indicate an ethical complexity surrounding routine violence risk screening in psychiatric settings, aligning with the ethical values of staff in emergency care.

Limitations:

• The study's sample size was limited to six respondents, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
• The focus was primarily on ethical considerations, which may overlook other practical aspects of implementation.

Conclusion:

Careful implementation is necessary to ensure knowledge dissemination and clear guidelines for using screening results.