title: Awareness and Attitudes Towards Violence and Abuse among Emergency Nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study identifies degree of awareness and legal knowledge about overall abuse and violence, and investigates attitudes towards domestic violence in emergency nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data collection period was between August and December 2012 for 131 nurses who worked in the emergency center of five hospitals in South Korea. This study surveyed emergency nurses about the recognition of abuse and violence, the legal knowledge of abuse and violence, and the attitudes towards domestic violence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study showed that approximately 60.0% of participants experienced incidents of suspected abuse or violence, but the reporting rates were low. Of all the participants, 70.2% knew that they must report the discovery of abuse or violent incidents, but 45.0% did not know that if someone who had duty to report but did not report that he/she had a legal responsibility. Most emergency nurses agreed that "even if the domestic violence is severe it should not be suggested to victims that they run away, leaving children at home", and "perpetrators are patients who need treatment."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate awareness about abuse and violence, and systematic education are required for emergency nurses so that they can provide appropriate interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health, Kongju National University, Kongju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ok-Hee
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, Sun Moon University, Asan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeong-Sook
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: ysyoo@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yang-Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017579:Domestic Violence; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attitude; awareness; emergency nursing; violence