Knowledge, Attitude and Performance of Psychiatric Nurses toward Aggressive Patient

Abstract

ggression is any form of behavior that is intended to injure someone physically or psychologically. Aggression in the health care settings is a well evidenced dilemma and constitutes a very significant area for nursing research, furthermore psychiatric patients’ aggression and violence in mental health hospitals is anescalating problem that poses a threat to the physical and psychological health of all the involved parties including the aggressive patients, other patients in the unit and the care providers especially nurses who are the most prone to endure violence. Workplace violence, including patient-perpetrated violence in healthcare settings, is increasingly being recognized as preventable. Staff training had been identified as a necessary component of any initiative aimed at preventing or reducing incidents of aggression and violence in the workplace. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to assess the psychiatric nurses' knowledge, attitudes and performance toward aggressive behavior. Research question: What is the psychiatric nurses' knowledge, attitudes and performance toward aggressive behavior?