Workplace Psychosocial Hazards Experienced by Nurses in a Tertiary Healthcare Institution in Niger Delta Nigeria: Implication for Public Health

Abstract

This study examined workplace psychosocial hazards experienced by nurses in a tertiary healthcare institution in Niger Delta Nigeria: Implication for public health. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of psychosocial hazard among nurses in the workplace, the risk factors/causes of psychosocial hazards and the health effects on nurses. The study adopted descriptive survey design with the population consisting of 550 nurses out of which 313 were selected using the multistage sampling technique with only 306 valid for data analysis. The instrument for data collection was a researcher (self) structured questionnaire designed on the yes/no question format reflecting the study objectives. Data collection was done by direct delivery and retrieval method. Analysis of data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics and the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software version 22 was employed in the analytical process. The study findings revealed that there was 53.2% prevalence of psychosocial hazards among nurses; the associated factors for psychosocial hazards experienced by nurses include job stress, 94%, poor working condition, 95.4%, unavailability of standard and functional working equipment, 64.7%, excessive workload, 96.7% and poor communication flow, 74.5%; 81.7% have been hospitalized before due to health problems resulting from poor psychosocial work climate; 82.7% of the respondents had problems with coping with the demands of their job due to violence and harassment in the workplace; 53.9% have had social relationship problems because of their exposure to workplace violence or unfriendly work environment; however, there is no significant difference in the experience of psychosocial hazards among nurses based on their age (p>0.05). The study concluded that majority of the nurses experienced psychosocial hazards in the workplace. Based on the study findings, the need for relevant authorities to take measures to create a favourable psychosocial climate for nurses to work is recommended.