EXPERIENCE OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE AND SUBJECTIVE LEVELS OF AGGRESSION AMONG HEALTHCARE STAFF IN A NIGERIAN HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Workplace violence in the health sector is an issue of major public health. Little is known of assessment of aggression among victims of violence is quite relevant. Objective: A cross-sectional descriptive study of the occurrence of violence experienced by healthcare staff of a tertiary healthcare facility. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 127 healthcare workers. The instrument comprised of an explorative questionnaire and an extract of the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Results: Eighty-five (66.9%) of 127 respondents had experienced work-related violence. Verbal attack was most frequently reported (83.5%). Patients and relatives were the most cited perpetrators of violence. Nurses and doctors constituted 75% of health workers who were exposed to violence. Sociodemographic characteristics such as age group, sex, and experience at work were significant risks for violence. Study revealed the majority of respondents who experienced violence had elevated scores on the subjective aggression scale. Conclusion: Seventy percent of respondents experienced work-related violence; 62.4% of the perpetrators were patients and relatives. The reasons for violence included health workers long waiting time and health workers’ elevated scores on the subjective aggression scale. Training and educating health workers on identifying early signs of aggression and also anger management would help in reducing violence at the workplace.