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Background.  Deliberate selfharm is frequently encountered by emergency department (ED) nurses. However, clients are often dissatisfied with the care provided and clinicians feel ambivalent, helpless or frustrated when working with clients who selfharm.

Aim.  The aim of the study was to develop and test a scale to identify relevant dimensions of ED nurses' attitudes to clients who present with selfinjury.

Methods.  Items on Attitudes Towards Deliberate SelfHarm Questionnaire (ADSHQ) were drawn from a literature review and focus group discussions with ED nurses. The tool was piloted with 20 ED nurses not working in the target agencies. A survey of nurses working within 23 major public and 14 major private EDs in Queensland, Australia ( n  = 1008) was then undertaken.

Results.  A total of 352 questionnaires were returned (35% response). Analysis revealed four factors that reflected …