Incidence of Violent Attacks on Psychiatric Nurses and Factors that Influence them in Neuro-Psychiatric Hospitals in Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract:

Violent attack on psychiatric nurses is a serious act that has great impact on the individual and the society. Objective of this study was to determine the incidence of attacks and the factors influencing these attacks on nurses in the two Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospitals in Southwest, Nigeria. The survey employed mixed method. Total enumeration of nurses whose name were found in the incidence books were used for data collection through interview between 2015 and 2020. Rate of occurrences of violent attack on nurses were more of physical violence; physical assault (81%) and physical threat (13%), while verbal abuse was (6%). Male patients at about 65% were involved in attacking nurses. Both nursing gender were at risk of attacked by the patients but male have higher incidence rate of about 55%. Patients’ personal characteristics and environmental factors were responsible for these attacks. Using of violence assessment form will help early detection.