Violence against nurses in healthcare facilities in Kuwait.
A national cross-sectional survey was conducted to document the prevalence and determinants of violence against nurses in healthcare facilities in Kuwait. It involved all nurses employed in all types of health-related facilities and available in the country in May 1999. The questionnaire was completed by 5876 nurses (85% females, 88% non-Kuwaitis). Verbal violence had been experienced in the 6 previous months by 48% of the group, and physical violence by 7%. There was no physical harm reported in 63% of cases of physical violence. Physical abusers were mostly patients (51%). Compared to nurses who had never experienced physical violence, those who had experienced some were more likely to be male, non-Kuwaiti, to have had a shorter professional experience, and to be working in a hospital rather than in a primary healthcare center. The experience of nurses with violence is still relatively rare in Kuwait. Communication with patients and their entourage of family members and/or close friends is needed to clarify expectations and to avoid frustration and angry verbal outbursts.
Adib
Salim M
SM
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait. salimad@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
Al-Shatti
Ahmad K
AK
Kamal
Shadia
S
El-Gerges
Najwa
N
Al-Raqem
Mariam
M
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D014754:Violence