Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Nursing - Department of Psychiatric Nursing

Sexual harassment continues to be an important hospitals' workplace concern that is associated with a number of negative outcomes on nurses' bio-psychosocial health. Sexual harassment against nurses can also affect their work performance and productivity. The aim of the study was to assess the bio- psychosocial effects of exposure to sexual harassment among nursing staff working at Cairo university teaching hospitals. The study used descriptive correlational design and a convenient sample (n =120 nurses) was selected from various specialties. Three tools for data collection were used in this study. Two tools were developed by the researcher i.e., the socio- demographic sheet and Sexual Harassment Bio- Psychosocial Questionnaire (SHBPSQ126) .The third tool was the Arabic version of the standardized General Health Questionnaire (GHQ30). Results revealed high prevalence of nurses' frequent exposure to sexual harassment in different hospital workplace units, the results also showed most prevalent forms of hazing and sexual harassment were: Verbal hazing, Discomfiting and invasive staring/ looks & Intended improper hand touching while the same results showed 1.67% of studied nurses assault and rape attempt. The negative impact of sexual harassment on nurses' bio-psychosocial was found. Significant correlation between exposure to sexual harassment and psychosocial health revealed the negative impact on nurses' general health. Significant correlation between perpetrators of sexual harassment and all hospital workplace units and specific results showed that there were three sexual harassment perpetrators (physician, colleagues (male nurses) and others (administrative bodies) were most significantly related to the operating room. Patient as harasser is significantly related to medical units, while out-patient clinics as hospital units are significantly related to the patient's relatives

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