Workplace Violence Against Nurses in Psychiatric Hospital Settings: Perspectives from Saudi Arabia

Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2019, Vol 19, Issue 1

Abstract

Objectives: Workplace violence (WPV) has become a world-wide concern. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of WPV among nurses working in psychiatric hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at three psychiatric hospitals in Saudi Arabia between March and May 2017. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire which was used to measure the prevalence and explore the associated factors of WPV. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was also performed. Results: A total of 310 nurses (response rate: 62%) were included in this study. The prevalence of WPV against nurses was 90.3%, of which 57.7% had been exposed to both physical and verbal abuse. More nurses were exposed to WPV during the morning shift than the evening shift (58.4% versus 42.3%). Violent behaviour was exhibited mostly by the patients themselves (81.3%). Over half of the nurses (57.4%) required medical intervention in such cases. The majority of nurses felt either stressed (64.2%) or anxious (53.5%) and 34.2% felt depressed after the incident. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that time of violence, source of violence, patient dissatisfaction with medical care and lack of organisational support for nurses were significantly associated with the occurrence of WPV in psychiatric units. Conclusion: WPV has reached an alarming rate among nurses in psychiatric hospitals in Saudi Arabia. It is crucial to invest in the prevention of WPV by constant training of workers and a mutual policy with the police and the civic prosecutor in Saudi Arabia on how to respond to violent psychiatric patients.

Authors and Affiliations

Wafa Basfr, Ahlam Hamdan, Samia Al-Habib

Keywords

Related Articles

Acquired Pure Red Cell Aplasia caused by Parvovirus B19 Infection following a Renal Transplant

We report a young Omani male who developed severe and persistent anaemia after a kidney transplantation while being on immunosuppression therapy, standard practice to prevent rejection of the transplanted kidney. His b...

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Nasal Vestibule in a Child

A case of rhabdomyosarcoma in a 2 year old girl without a pre-existing predisposing factor visited the ENT Department of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH). Her clinical condition did not point to the diagnosis, w...

Anaesthesia Management of a Patient with Hereditary Angioedema with Prophylactic Administration of C1 Esterase Inhibitor Case report and literature review

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disorder caused by a defciency of C1 esterase inhibitor. Minor trauma and emotional stress are the most common initiating events leading to contact system activation and excessive...

Asymptomatic Permanent Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB) complicating Diagnostic Left Heart Catheterisation

Tis case report describes a routine diagnostic left heart catheterisation (coronary angiography, aortography and left ventriculography) procedure at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman, which was complicated by the...

Calvarial Tuberculosis in a Preschool-Aged Child An uncommon entity

Calvarial tuberculosis is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis, especially in children under fve years of age. We report a two-and-a-half-year-old male child who presented to the Nilratan Sircar Medical College, Kolkat...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP43095
  • DOI -
  • Views 307
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Wafa Basfr, Ahlam Hamdan, Samia Al-Habib (2019). Workplace Violence Against Nurses in Psychiatric Hospital Settings: Perspectives from Saudi Arabia. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 19(1), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-43095