The Physical Environmental Stressors Mitigating Effective Caregiving in NigerianGeneral Hospitals : A Case Study of Kaduna State

Abstract

Stress has been identified to be one of the major challenges of healthcare settings that causesturnover and burnout of caregivers and  also a negative consequences on patient recovery. It isa common condition that has a significant negative consequences on the well- beingof usersof healthcare environment. It has been established that, Healthcare environment havetendencies of aggravating or  reducing stress, but very little information is available onits rolein relation to stress in Nigeria. In this regard, this research is aimed at  examiningthemitigating effects of environmental stressors on effective caregiving in General hospitals. Acase study of four (4) General  Hospitals in Kaduna State (Hajiya Gambo Sawaba, Giwa, Kauru and Sarkin Maska Shehu in Funtua) was carried out to explore the  stressorsofhealthcare environment and their resultant effects. In addition to observation, Twenty-fourhealthcare personnel comprising of  nurses and doctors were selected using purposivelysampling and interviewed. The data was analysed using content analysis. Two  environmental stressors found in healthcare environment are ambient and facility layout in nature. It was alsofound that there was less  conscious attempt to use stress reducing-measures in minimisingstress on the users. Therefore, it becomes pertinent to use design  strategies and elementsinherent with stress-relieving effects to minimise stress in future designs of general hospitalsin the country.