Nurses’ Perceptions regarding Types of Aggressive Behaviour displayed by Patients in a Selected Psychiatric Hospital in Lesotho

Abstract

Aggressive behaviour of inpatients in mental health facilities occurs globally and is a serious nursing problem. Consequently, there is insufficient research studies conducted among nurses regarding the types of aggressive behaviour displayed by patients in psychiatric institutions. The purpose of this study was to determine nurses’ perceptions regarding the types of aggressive behaviour displayed by patients in a selected psychiatric hospital in Lesotho. A quantitative descriptive survey was used to collect data from 119 nurses who were selected by quota sampling. The data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire, analysed by using SPSS (version 25), and displayed by using tables, frequencies, standard deviations, means and Pearson’s chi-square test. The findings reported that the types of aggressive behaviour included verbal aggression (86%, n = 103), physical aggression against objects (79%, n = 94), physical aggression against self (65.5%, n = 78), and physical aggression against other people (81.5%, n = 97). This study concludes that the perceptions of the nurses were positively inclined towards violent behaviour displayed by patients. The study recommends that nurses be equipped with comprehensive psychiatric skills and information to enable them to manage and cope with patients’ aggression.

Mental Healthcare workers’ experiences in managing psychiatric patients’ aggression in Maseru

“…The majority of participants were females. This may be because of the fact that nursing is a profession dominated by women (Rathobei et al 2021). The study revealed that more participants were nurses with Diploma in general nursing and midwifery and those who had Certificate in Nursing Assistants.…”

“…The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines (2015) define aggression as a range of behaviours or actions that can result in harm, hurt or injury to another person, regardless of whether the expression of violence or aggression is physical or verbal. Furthermore, Rathobei, Nyangu and Dube (2021) stated that aggression is behaviour categorised by anger, hostile thoughts, words and actions towards other people that are noticeable in speech, tone of voice, body language, outward expression of anger or rage that is threatening and actual or physical actions. In addition, violence is the deliberate use of physical strength or power, threatened or actual, against oneself or against other people, which may result in injury, death, Background: Aggression and violence in psychiatric clinical facilities are a common case, and mental healthcare workers utilise various management strategies to combat it.…”

Knowledge of antipsychotic medication and their side effects among psychiatric nurses at a tertiary hospital in Lesotho

“…Additionally, the mean age of respondents in the current study was 39 years. However, the study conducted by Rathobei et al (2021) computed the mean age of the respondents to be 29.8 years (± 9.2).…”