Workplace Assault and Its’ Impact to Service Delivery amongst Dental Professionals at Tertiary Hospitals in Northern Nigeria

Authors

  • Basil Tochukwu OJUKWU Inter-country Centre for Oral Health (ICOH) for Africa, Jos, Plateau State.
  • Sani Auwalu BALARABE Inter-country Centre for Oral Health (ICOH) for Africa, Jos, Plateau State.
  • Mohammed A.S. ABDULLAHI Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State.
  • Thomas OWOBU Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State.
  • Daniel O. OSUNDE Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross Rivers State
  • Kelvin U. OMEJE Faculty of Dentistry, Bayero University Kano, Kano State
  • Olawale Akeem SOTUNDE Faculty of Dentistry, Bayero University Kano, Kano State

Keywords:

Workplace, assault, dental professionals, auxiliaries

Abstract

Objective: The growing global public health concern of workplace assaults has necessitated that workers’ health and safety be given same priority as patient’s safety. The study assessed the prevalence of workplace assault and its’ impact on service delivery among dental professionals at tertiary hospitals in Northern Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 60 dental professionals working in tertiary hospitals actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate trainings for dental workforce in Northern Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used in selection of respondents and participation was voluntary. Data was collected using structured self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0 and p-value ? 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ethical approval was received.

Results: Sixty percent dentists and 40.0% dental auxiliaries participated in the study. Assault prevalence was 38.3% observed more among dental professionals (44.0%) in their first year in practice. Types of assaults experienced were; non-physical 19 (82.6%) with loud shouting and threats as most frequent, physical 3 (13.0%) with bullying and mobbing most frequent, and combination was 1 (4.4%). Patients (60.9%) and relatives (52.2%) were major culprits, and long appointment (65.2%) and treatment cost (60.9%) were main reasons for assault. Respondents (39.1%) expressed impact on their productivity and 69.6% respondents were ill-prepared to handle it.

Conclusion: The prevalence of workplace assaults on dental professionals was fairly high and those in their first year in practice suffer more assault than others. Assault preventive programs should however specifically target this group in consideration with the unique nature and varied needs of each healthcare institutions.

 

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Published

2020-07-31