Workplace Violence: The Perception of Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the perception of healthcare workers on workplace violence

Methods: This descriptive study investigated healthcare providers in Edo State, Nigeria, using a self-administered questionnaire with two sections. Section A collected demographic data, while Section B explored the research topic in-depth. Responses were measured on a Likert scale with four options: Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Agree, and Strongly Agree. The study focused on healthcare workers in the Accident and Emergency units of three hospitals in Edo State, selected to represent distinct senatorial districts. Participants were randomly distributed across the hospitals. Data analysis employed simple percentages and Chi-square tests, with results presented in tabular form.

Results: The profession of the respondents comprised medical doctors 72(18), nurses 196 (49%), pharmacists 64(16%), physiotherapists 32 (8%) and laboratory scientists/Technician 36 (9%). In terms of age, 8 respondents (2%) were below the age of 20years, 68 respondents (17%) are between the ages of 21-30 years, 54 respondents (88% are between the ages of 31-40years while 236 respondents (59%) are 41 years and above.

Twenty-nine of the respondents (7.25%) strongly agreed that workplace violence exists among health workers either by staff or patients/relatives, 338 respondents (84.5%) agree, 21 respondents (5.25%) disagreed while the remaining 12 respondents (3%) strongly disagree.

 Sixteen of the respondents (4%) strongly agree that violence in workplaces among health workers is caused by non-staff only, 68 respondents (17%) agree, 204 respondents (51%) disagree while the remaining 112 respondents (28%) strongly disagreed

Conclusion: Workplace violence is a harsh reality for healthcare workers, particularly those in emergency departments, and poses a significant threat to their well-being. Therefore, it is imperative to provide healthcare workers with training on violence prevention and management to ensure a safer working environment.