Mohammed Al Kharusi

University of Glasgow, Oman

Title: Prevalence of Workplace Violence among Nurses in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

---

Biography

Mohammed Al Kharusi is a postgraduate researcher in the School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow. His research focuses on workplace violence and workplace bullying in nursing, with particular attention to nurses in Oman and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council region. His doctoral work uses quantitative and qualitative methods to examine workplace bullying, turnover intention, resilience, and perceived organisational support among mental health nurses. He is committed to producing evidence that supports safer healthcare workplaces, strengthens organisational responses to violence and bullying, and improves nurses' wellbeing and retention.

Abstract

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) is a major occupational hazard for nurses, yet region-specific evidence from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries remains fragmented. Objective: To synthesise the prevalence, types, determinants, and consequences of WPV among nurses in GCC countries. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, six databases were searched from inception to June 2024. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024589527). Observational and experimental studies reporting nurse-specific WPV data from GCC countries were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for prevalence studies. Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated using random-effects proportional meta-analysis. Results: Thirty-three studies from five GCC countries, involving 15,039 nurses, were included. Most studies were conducted in Saudi Arabia (n=25), followed by Kuwait (n=3), Oman (n=3), Bahrain (n=1), and Qatar (n=1); no eligible study was identified from the United Arab Emirates. The pooled prevalence of overall WPV was 68% (95% confidence interval [CI] 59%-76%). Verbal violence was the most prevalent subtype at 53% (95% CI 39%-66%), followed by bullying/mobbing at 32% (95% CI 16%-49%), physical violence at 17% (95% CI 10%-24%), and sexual violence at 5% (95% CI 1%-10%). Reported determinants included patient- and relative-related factors, staffing shortages, workload, shift patterns, limited organisational support, and interpersonal conflict. WPV was associated with psychological distress, burnout, reduced job satisfaction, absenteeism, turnover intention, and poorer quality of care. Conclusion: WPV is highly prevalent among nurses in GCC countries, particularly verbal violence and bullying. Healthcare organisations and policymakers should implement culturally responsive prevention strategies, strengthen reporting and follow-up systems, support affected staff, and address organisational risk factors. Greater research coverage is needed across under-represented GCC countries.