Reducing Lethal Force Errors by Modulating Police Physiology.
prospective_cohort · Level II
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 30020222.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001401 and PMC identifier 6200377.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to test an intervention modifying officer physiology to reduce lethal force errors and improve health. A longitudinal, within-subjects intervention study was conducted with urban front-line police officers (n = 57). The physiological intervention applied an empirically validated method of enhancing parasympathetic engagement (ie, heart rate variability biofeedback) during stressful training that required lethal force decision-making. Significant post-intervention reductions in lethal force errors, and in the extent and duration of autonomic arousal, were maintained across 12 months. Results at 18 months begin to return to pre-intervention levels. We provide objective evidence for a physiologically focused intervention in reducing errors in lethal force decision-making, improving health and safety for both police and the public. Results provide a timeline of skill retention, suggesting annual retraining to maintain health and safety gains.
Medical subject headings
- Decision Making
- Heart Rate
- Law Enforcement
- Occupational Stress
- Parasympathetic Nervous System