Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background: The risk of violence is higher in some occupations, including nursing. Also, violence is becoming more prevalent in health care settings. The first step for reducing violence is recognition of its potential risk factors. The aim of present study was assessment of violence against nurses and related risk factors in Iran.

  Methods: In this descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study Persian version of NEXT questionnaire was used. Sampling method was multistep sampling. Stratification was performed based on the hospital and then in each hospital questionnaires was given to nurses non-randomly. 1070 nurses working in 14 TUMS (Tehran University of medical sciences) hospitals were included in the study.

  Results: Psychological violence from patients and their relatives against nurses included in the study was 60.3%. There was no significant relationship between age, sex, professional position, work experience, patients numbers who worked with participants in a single shift and average weekly work hours and psychological violence from patients and their relatives (P<0.05), but participants ward, work schedule, and work disturbances, had a significant relationship with psychological violence from patients/relatives.

  Conclusion: Based on this study, violence against nurses is a common and important problem and further studies aimed to reduce that, with regard to risk factors achieved in this study, is essential.