title: A pilot study to test an intervention for dealing with verbal aggression.
abstract: Verbal aggression has been defined as communication with an intention to harm an individual through words, tone or manner, regardless of whether harm occurs. It includes verbal threat to harm, ridicule, openly hostile remarks, unjust persistent criticism, shouting or yelling insults, as well as more covert actions such as spreading hurtful rumours (Cox, 1987; Farrell et al, 2006). Receiving verbal aggression from a patient has been closely associated with psychological distress which may negatively affect work performance. A verbal aggression work book was developed to help nursing staff to deal with verbal aggression from patients in clinical practice. This was piloted over a six-week period with 18 nurses working on one acute psychiatric inpatient ward. Findings revealed that the intervention had some promising effects. However, much more attention needs to be paid to changing attitudes towards verbal aggression.
authors.affiliation: Thamas Valley Univesrity and Berkshire Health Care Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mboche
authors.forename: Trish
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fairlie
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D020377:Self Efficacy; D014705:Verbal Behavior