From Verbal Abuse to Legal Threats: Analyzing Assaults on Nursing Staff in a Libyan Healthcare Setting: A Case Study from Sorman General Hospital

Background. The study aims to identify the causes of violence against nursing staff at Sorman General Hospital, explore the forms of assault faced by the nursing staff, and examine the correlational relationship between the causes of violence and the forms of assault. A descriptive approach was adopted as it suited the study, and a questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Material and Methods The sample included 70 exposed and non-exposed individuals within Sorman General Hospital. The collected data were analyzed using the statistical analysis program SPSS 25. Results revealed a high prevalence of causes of violence, including leniency in enforcing penalties against perpetrators of violence within the hospital, tribal tensions, and the dominance of a culture of violence, lack of awareness, poor communication skills, and the belief that violence is a means to achieve goals. Additionally, a high prevalence of the most prominent forms of assault against nursing staff at Sorman General Hospital was identified, such as verbal abuse and shouting, refusal to cooperate, assault on nurses' personal property (e.g., cars, phones), and threats of legal action or imprisonment due to medical errors. The study also indicated that there is no statistically significant difference in the causes of violence and forms of assault against nursing staff, with a significance level of (α ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, the researchers recommended the necessity of enforcing punitive laws against those who commit such violent behaviors and imposing strict regulations to prevent such potential violations.