Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: The aims of the study were to determine the types and prevalence of forensic mental health nurse exposure to patient aggression and explore the impact of these exposures on their physical and mental health and work absences.
METHODS: Cross-sectional survey conducted January to April 2020.
METHODS: All 205 nurses working in an Australian high-security inpatient forensic mental health hospital were invited to participate. An online survey included the Perception of Prevalence of Aggression Scale to measure respondent exposure to types of patient aggression, and the SF-36v2 to measure mental and physical health. Absence from work and other work and individual characteristics were also explored.
RESULTS: Sixty-eight respondents completed the survey. Verbal abuse was the most experienced aggression type, followed by physical violence and observing violence, patient self-harming behaviours and sexual violence. Nurses who worked in acute units experienced significantly more exposure to overall aggression than nurses in non-acute units. Higher level of aggression was associated with number of days sick leave taken and days off due to aggression or violence. Higher level of aggression was associated with poorer mental health, and patient self-harming behaviour was associated with poorer physical health.
CONCLUSIONS: Nurses in acute units experience higher levels of inpatient aggression and are therefore at increased risk of being impacted by the exposure. Findings indicate a psychological impact of exposure to frequent aggression and potential for an accumulative effect of exposure to traumatic events on nurse well-being. Nurses who are victim of, or witness, physical violence are most likely to take time off work.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence that forensic mental health nurses are frequently exposed to various forms of patient aggression. For some nurses, this exposure to patient aggression negatively impacted their mental and physical health. Employing organizations should therefore prioritize provision of formal support for nurses. No patient or public contribution.
METHODS: Cross-sectional survey conducted January to April 2020.
METHODS: All 205 nurses working in an Australian high-security inpatient forensic mental health hospital were invited to participate. An online survey included the Perception of Prevalence of Aggression Scale to measure respondent exposure to types of patient aggression, and the SF-36v2 to measure mental and physical health. Absence from work and other work and individual characteristics were also explored.
RESULTS: Sixty-eight respondents completed the survey. Verbal abuse was the most experienced aggression type, followed by physical violence and observing violence, patient self-harming behaviours and sexual violence. Nurses who worked in acute units experienced significantly more exposure to overall aggression than nurses in non-acute units. Higher level of aggression was associated with number of days sick leave taken and days off due to aggression or violence. Higher level of aggression was associated with poorer mental health, and patient self-harming behaviour was associated with poorer physical health.
CONCLUSIONS: Nurses in acute units experience higher levels of inpatient aggression and are therefore at increased risk of being impacted by the exposure. Findings indicate a psychological impact of exposure to frequent aggression and potential for an accumulative effect of exposure to traumatic events on nurse well-being. Nurses who are victim of, or witness, physical violence are most likely to take time off work.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence that forensic mental health nurses are frequently exposed to various forms of patient aggression. For some nurses, this exposure to patient aggression negatively impacted their mental and physical health. Employing organizations should therefore prioritize provision of formal support for nurses. No patient or public contribution.
摘要：
目的：研究的目的是确定法医心理健康护士暴露于患者攻击的类型和患病率，并探讨这些暴露对他们的身心健康和工作缺勤的影响。
方法：2020年1月至4月进行的横断面调查。
方法：邀请在澳大利亚高安全性住院法医精神健康医院工作的所有205名护士参加。一项在线调查包括“侵略患病率感知量表”，以衡量受访者对患者侵略类型的暴露程度，和SF-36v2来测量身心健康。还探讨了工作缺位和其他工作以及个人特征。
结果：68名受访者完成了调查。言语虐待是最有经验的攻击类型，其次是身体暴力和观察暴力，患者自我伤害行为和性暴力。在急性病房工作的护士比非急性病房的护士经历了更多的整体攻击性。较高的侵略程度与因侵略或暴力而请病假和休假的天数有关。较高的攻击性与较差的心理健康有关，患者的自我伤害行为与较差的身体健康有关。
结论：急性病房的护士经历更高水平的住院攻击，因此受到暴露影响的风险增加。研究结果表明，经常遭受侵略的心理影响以及遭受创伤事件对护士幸福感的累积影响的可能性。护士是受害者，或者证人,身体暴力最有可能使工作时间休息。
结论：这项研究提供了进一步的证据，证明法医心理健康护士经常遭受各种形式的患者攻击。对于一些护士来说，这种暴露于患者的攻击对他们的身心健康产生了负面影响。因此，雇用组织应优先考虑为护士提供正式支持。没有耐心或公共贡献。
方法：2020年1月至4月进行的横断面调查。
方法：邀请在澳大利亚高安全性住院法医精神健康医院工作的所有205名护士参加。一项在线调查包括“侵略患病率感知量表”，以衡量受访者对患者侵略类型的暴露程度，和SF-36v2来测量身心健康。还探讨了工作缺位和其他工作以及个人特征。
结果：68名受访者完成了调查。言语虐待是最有经验的攻击类型，其次是身体暴力和观察暴力，患者自我伤害行为和性暴力。在急性病房工作的护士比非急性病房的护士经历了更多的整体攻击性。较高的侵略程度与因侵略或暴力而请病假和休假的天数有关。较高的攻击性与较差的心理健康有关，患者的自我伤害行为与较差的身体健康有关。
结论：急性病房的护士经历更高水平的住院攻击，因此受到暴露影响的风险增加。研究结果表明，经常遭受侵略的心理影响以及遭受创伤事件对护士幸福感的累积影响的可能性。护士是受害者，或者证人,身体暴力最有可能使工作时间休息。
结论：这项研究提供了进一步的证据，证明法医心理健康护士经常遭受各种形式的患者攻击。对于一些护士来说，这种暴露于患者的攻击对他们的身心健康产生了负面影响。因此，雇用组织应优先考虑为护士提供正式支持。没有耐心或公共贡献。
