Verbal abuse among prehospital nurses in a developing country setting

Verbal abuse is the most common form of workplace violence against nurses in prehospital emergency care, yet it remains under-recognized in developing countries such as Vietnam. This mixed-methods study, conducted from May to July 2025, aimed to determine the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of verbal abuse against prehospital nurses, and to explore prevention strategies from their perspectives. A survey of 600 nurses at the Ho Chi Minh City 115 Emergency Center and 22 satellite hospitals revealed that 72.8% had experienced verbal abuse in the past 12 months, primarily at the emergency scene (63.2%) and perpetrated by patients’ relatives (95.9%). Overtime work was identified as an independent risk factor for verbal abuse (aOR = 1.6; p = 0.017). Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions revealed four recommended intervention domains: enhancing security and surveillance systems; training in communication and emotional regulation skills; improving system support and interdisciplinary coordination; expanding access to psychological support and public communication initiatives. This study provides the first empirical evidence from Vietnam on this topic, underscoring the urgent need for multi-level, system-based, and contextually relevant interventions to protect healthcare personnel and enhance the quality of prehospital emergency care services.