Nurses’ attitudes and reactions to workplace violence in obstetrics and gynaecology departments in Cairo hospitals

This study aimed to identify forms of workplace violence against obstetrics and gynaecology nurses and assess their reaction and attitude to it. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 among 416 randomly selected nurses in obstetrics and gynaecology departments in 8 hospitals in Cairo, Egypt. Data were collected using a self-completed questionnaire and Likert scale to record sociodemographic characteristics, exposure to workplace violence and its types, and nurses’ reaction and attitude to it. The majority of nurses (86.1%) had been exposed to workplace violence. Patients’ relatives were the greatest source of violence (38.5%) and psychological violence was the most common form (78.1%). Carelessness (40.5%) and malpractice of nurses (35.8%) were reported as the usual causes of violence. For psychological and physical violence 50% of the nurses used the formal system to report abuse. Most nurses (87.2%) considered workplace violence had a negative effect of on them. Guidelines for protection of nursing staff are needed.