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Arab Journal of Administration المجلة العربية للإدارة

Abstract

Some researchers limit workplace violence to physical attack; however this definition is expanded to include nonphysical attack such as verbal threat. Worldwide, workplace violence within health care sector has received growing attention due to the fact that it is pervasive and costly problem. Workplace violence costs include both financial and nonfinancial aspects such as employee’s dissatisfaction. Therefore, it has been acknowledged as a major problem facing workers in health care sector. In the Arab world context in general and Jordan in particular, violence incidents against physicians and nurses have been recognized as a major problem for healthcare workers, these calls for a systematic and scientific investigation of this issue. Despite awareness of this problem by governmental officials and general public little is known about the causes of this unethical behavior. Government has responded to this problem by regulations, increased the severity of punishment and initiating police centers in hospitals in order to combat the occurrence of such damaging behavior. Focusing exclusively on law enforcement, though important, is insufficient to undermine workplace violence behavior. This is evident by the increasing rate of violence despite the existence of law against such behavior. A better alternative would be to develop a deeper understanding of factors that influence this action This study investigated the effect of several individual and situational determinants on aggressive behavior. More specifically we examined the effect of patient satisfaction, need for revenge, and tolerance of aggression, anger, and aggression normative beliefs. The study conducted on a sample of (216) respondents from three public hospitals. The results supported the proposed hypotheses. Based on the results of this study recommendations and future research are discussed.

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