title: Wounding words: swearing and verbal aggression in an inpatient setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the research was to investigate swearing and verbal aggression in Australian inpatient settings, including incidence, gender, patient motivation, and nursing interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed methods approach utilizing the Overt Aggression Scale and a survey of 107 nurses' perceptions of their experience of swearing was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High levels of swearing and verbal aggression were found, with differing patterns for male and female patients. Nurses subjected to swearing experienced high levels of distress, especially females. All nurses appeared to use a limited range of interventions to deal with patient aggression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to provide optimal care for patients, there is a clear need to improve nurses' ability to predict and prevent aggression.
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle-Nursing and Midwifery, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. teresa.stone@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hazelton
authors.forename: Edward H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Clayton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult