Perception of the Causes of Violence Against Healthcare Professionals in Public Teaching Hospitals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Abstract
Background: Workplace violence is common in most workplaces, and the health sector is also affected. Healthcare professionals are the most common victims of workplace aggression. This study aims to investigate the perceived causes of violence against healthcare professionals in public teaching hospitals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at two public tertiary hospitals in Port Harcourt in 2025 among healthcare workers. Data was extracted from the respondents and analyzed with statistical package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and the results were presented using tables and charts.
Result: The number of healthcare professionals recruited into this study was 293. The commonest causes of workplace violence in this study are long waiting time 150(51.2%), patient in pain 78(26.6), patient not improving 50 (17.1%), payment of hospital fees 50 (17.1%), and the death of a patient 48 (15.4%). The incidents that were not reported were 251(85.7%).
Conclusion: Workplace violence is determined by several factors in this study. The hospital administrators and managers can use the perceived causes in this study to develop preventive strategies against workplace violence.
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