Knowledge and Practice of B.S Nurses Who Work IN Hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Toward Human Territoriality Concept

Background: The term territory refers to any sciographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics. Human Territoriality is a term associated with nonverbal communication that refers to how people use space to communicate ownership/occupancy of areas and possessions. We can consider that this personal space is like a bubble that one doesn't want invaded.Nursing practice may be invassive and treate patient’s territories. Study objectives: This study aimed to compare knowledge and practice on human territoriality by nurses who work in hospitals of Shiraz university of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive study, 97 B.S Nurses who working in hospitals of Shiraz university of Medical Sciences were selected by stratified sampling. The data collecting tools were a questionnaire that assessing demographic characters of subjects and their knowledge and 3 forms consisted of self evaluation form, head nurse’s evaluation form and assistant researcher evaluation form which completed in order to evaluate individual’s behavior about human territoriality. These gathering data were analyzed by T-test, Correlation Coefficient, Regression, One way Analysis of Variance and Tukey procedure. Results: Results showed that graduate Nurse’s knowledge and behavioral scoring toward human territoriality were less than 16 from 20 (P<.001).Statistical analysis confirmed positive correlation between B.S Nurse’s knowledge about human territoriality in hospitals of Shiraz university of Medical Sciences and their practice(r = .84). Conclusions/Recommendations: With respect to the results obtained, the researchers suggest that topic of human territoriality should be including in the curriculum of B.S Nurses and education during their career. In addition academic supervisors in hospitals should meticulously observe the practice of nursing and correcting their mistakes.

Human territoriality, Nurse, Knowledge, Practice , Shiraz , Hospital