Resistance to care: contributing factors and associated behaviours in healthcare facilities

Aims: This article reports results of a study of contributing factors and associated behaviours in specific clinical areas to resistance to care episodes. Background: Resistance to Care has previously been studied in aged care settings, and previous studies have reported patient behaviours and appropriate responses. Resistance to Care is a defensive response by patients towards healthcare staff and is demonstrated in various non-compliant behaviours. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of nurses (n = 5044), who were members of the New South Wales Nurses' Association in Australia, was conducted in 2008–2009. Results: Resistance to Care episodes occur in various clinical settings and may be precipitated by a range of clinical diagnoses and symptoms. They may also be triggered during various nursing activities that nurses recognize as high-risk for these episodes. Conclusion: The reported Resistance to Care behaviours are similar to those reported in studies of aggression and violence; however, they require a substantially different response by nurses in various clinical contexts