Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2005):

The effect of a training course on nursing students' attitudes toward, perceptions of, and confidence in managing patient aggression.

Full Abstract

Patient aggression is a problem in many health care settings, and nursing students are among the most vulnerable to experiencing such aggression. Training courses have been suggested to help nurses better manage patient aggression. Such courses can lead to changes in attitudes toward and perceptions of, as well as greater confidence in managing, aggression. In this quasi-experimental study, we investigated the effect of a training course on nursing students' attitudes toward, perceptions of, and confidence in managing patient aggression. Students in the intervention group demonstrated enhanced confidence but no change in attitude after the training course, while students in the control group remained stable on all measures. The short time frame of the study, the training course itself, and the instruments used for monitoring attitudes toward aggression are possible reasons for these results. We tentatively conclude that it is possible to enhance nursing students' perceived confidence in managing patient aggression without changing their fundamental views of it.

Author information

Author/s: Needham, Ian (I); Abderhalden, Christoph (C); Zeller, Adelheid (A); Dassen, Theo (T); Haug, Hans-Joachim (HJ); Fischer, Joachim E (JE); Halfens, Rudolf J G (RJ);

Affiliation: Research Unit, University of Applied Science, Fribourg, Switzerland. needham(-atsign-)bluewin.ch

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Multicenter Study

Journal: The Journal of nursing education (J Nurs Educ), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2005-Sep; vol 44 (issue 9) : pp 415-20

Dates: Created 2005/10/13; Completed 2005/11/07;

PMID: 16220649, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Psychological Adult Aggression - psychology Attitude of Health Personnel Clinical Competence - standards Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate - organization & administration Factor Analysis, Statistical Female Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Humans Male Nurse-Patient Relations Nursing Education Research Program Evaluation Questionnaires Self Efficacy Students, Nursing - psychology Switzerland

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