Organisational factors predicting perceived workplace violence among nurses in Ondo and Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Little is known about the organisational antecedents of workplace violence among nurses in healthcare facilities in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to document the organisational factors predicting perceived workplace violence (PWV) among nurses in Ondo and Osun States, Nigeria. Self-report questionnaires were completed by four hundred and fifteen (415) nurses from primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals in Ondo and Osun States. Participants were selected using multistage sampling techniques. Data was collected using a questionnaire containing items on socio-demographic characteristics, PWV (α = 0.90), staffing adequacy (SA) (α = 0.83), administrative support (AS) (α = 0.88), nurse-physician relationship (NPR) (α = 0.89). Data was analysed using multiple regression and One-way ANOVA, at p≤.05 level of significance. Results demonstrated that the mean age was 39.89±12.12 years, 83.1%were females. Staffing adequacy, administrative support and nurse/physician relationship significantly jointly predicted PWV (R² = 0.13, F_(3,410) = 20.2, p<.01). Nurses in tertiary health centres (?̅= 29.45) experience more PWV than nurses in secondary (?̅= 27.08) and primary (?̅= 25.39) health centres (F_{(2, 411)} = 4.26). Type of hospital moderated the relationship between staff adequacy (ct. = .22), nurses-physician relationship (ct. = .14) and PWV (ΔR² = .06, ΔF=_(7,405) = 3.34, p<.01). It was concluded that insufficient staffing and the quality of relationship between nurses and physicians were significant factors exacerbating the levels of workplace violence in the hospitals. The Hospital board in conjunction with psychologists should develop policy to review PWV through psycho-education and Employee Assistant Programme (EAP) in addressing PWV.

Keywords: Staffing Adequacy, Administrative Support, Nurse-Physician Relationship, Nurses’ in Ondo and Osun States, Nigeria