Problems, Causes, Impact, and Preventive Measures for Addressing Violence Faced by Nurses in Healthcare Settings in Thailand

Workplace violence (WPV) is a major occupational hazard for nurses in Thailand, negatively affecting psychological well-being, professional confidence, and patient care. In this quantitative cross-sectional analytic study involving 415 nurses, 43.61% reported experiencing at least one incident of WPV during the previous 12 months. Verbal abuse (41.20%) and physical violence (13.25%) were the most frequently reported forms, with a higher prevalence observed in urban hospitals than in rural hospitals (53.66% vs. 33.81%). Higher WPV risk was associated with working in medical wards (adjusted incidence rate ratio [Adj IRR] 3.33) and emergency departments (Adj IRR 2.47), caring for male-only patients (Adj IRR 1.87), younger age (Adj IRR 3.31), divorced or separated status (Adj IRR 3.05), rotating day and night shifts (Adj IRR 2.03), and extreme concern about WPV (Adj IRR 4.57). The psychological impact was considerable. Hypervigilance was the most common response (66.30%), especially following physical violence (76.36%). More than 41% of affected nurses reported intentions to resign or transfer and reduced professional confidence. Reporting incidents was often perceived as ineffective, contributing to underreporting. Nurses identified clear disciplinary measures, increased staffing, improved workplace environments, stronger security systems, and organizational support as key prevention priorities. These findings highlight the urgent need for context-specific interventions, targeted staff training, and organizational strategies to protect nurse well-being, strengthen workforce resilience, and maintain quality patient care.