The effectiveness of implementing ethical practices guideline for psychiatric nurses in communicating with clients with aggressive behavior

Abstract

       This research aimed to study the effectiveness of utilizing ethical guidelines in communication between psychiatric nurses and clients with aggressive behaviors. The samples were 1) registered nurses working at Suan Saranrom Hospital divided into an experimental group and a control group of 18 each, and 2) clients with aggressive behaviors, divided into an experimental group and a control group of 23 each. The research instruments were 1) ethical guidelines for psychiatric nurses in communicating with clients with aggressive behaviors, 2) a nurse communication scale with aggressive clients, 3) a satisfaction assessment scale for patients with aggressive behaviors with nurse communication, and 4) a severe aggressive behavior assessment scale. The content validity was assessed by five experts with content validity index was 1.00, and the reliability of the Cronbach alpha coefficient was .97 and .86, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, and Mann Whitney U Test.

       The results showed that the communication of nurses to clients with aggressive behaviors before and after using the guidelines among the experimental group was significantly different (Z = -3.726, p < .001). This was also significantly different between the experimental group and the control group (Z = -2.616, p = .009) after using the guidelines. The level of aggressive behaviors among the experimental group (87.50%) was reduced compared to the control group (39.47%). The satisfaction toward nurse communication among the experimental group and the control group was significantly different (Z = -3.521, p < .001).