A pilot study to test an intervention for dealing with verbal aggression.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Nursing
• Psychology

Background:

• Verbal aggression, defined as communication intended to harm, includes threats, insults, and rumors.
• Patient verbal aggression is linked to psychological distress and impaired work performance in healthcare professionals.
• Existing interventions need to address the multifaceted nature of verbal aggression in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a verbal aggression workbook for nursing staff.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on nurses' ability to manage patient verbal aggression.
• To identify areas for improvement in addressing verbal aggression in psychiatric inpatient settings.

Main Methods:

• A six-week pilot study was conducted with 18 nurses on an acute psychiatric inpatient ward.
• Participants utilized a newly developed verbal aggression workbook.
• The study assessed the intervention's effects on nurses' coping mechanisms and psychological distress.

Main Results:

• The verbal aggression workbook demonstrated some promising effects in helping nurses manage patient aggression.
• Nurses reported potential benefits in dealing with verbal aggression from patients.
• The intervention highlighted the need for further strategies to modify attitudes towards verbal aggression.

Conclusions:

• The developed workbook offers a potential tool for mitigating the negative impacts of patient verbal aggression on nurses.
• Further research and interventions are necessary to foster positive attitudinal shifts regarding verbal aggression in nursing practice.
• Addressing both behavioral and attitudinal aspects is crucial for effectively managing verbal aggression in clinical environments.