Violence Affecting the Nursing Performance in Provincial Hospitals of Southern Thailand: A Study on Causes and Impacts

Abstract

This qualitative research aimed to study the violence situations affecting the performance of nursing personnel in the Accident and Emergency Departments of public hospitals of Southern Thailand. The purposive sampling method was used. Primary informants were professional nurses who had direct experiences with violent incidents in six provincial hospitals in the southern region. The sample group included 36 participants in focus group discussions and 24 participants in in-depth interviews. The inclusion criteria were professional nurses with direct experiences of violent incidents to gather information regarding the forms, situations, and causes of violence. The research tools consisted of discussion topics for focus groups and questions for in-depth interviews. Content validity was assessed by five experts, and internal consistency was ensured through index of reliability. Data were analyzed based on content analysis, and the reliability of the findings was verified by following Guba and Lincoln's principles (1989). The research results showed the following.

1. The primary causes of violence in the Accident and Emergency Department included inappropriate verbal behavior from patients, often linked to substance abuse or alcohol consumption. On the provider side, causes included service behavior, the service environment, and overcrowded waiting areas with insufficient seating.

2. The incidents affected staff safety, organizational reputation, and patients' safety, resulting in delays in service delivery.

3. Preventive measures varied depending on the organizational context.

The study recommends that organizations provide communication training for healthcare personnel and widely disseminate violence management practices within the organization to ensure comprehensive implementation.