Acta Scientific Medical Sciences (ASMS)(ISSN: 2582-0931)

Research Article Volume 9 Issue 10

Worker's Perception of Changes in Workplace and Factors Associated with Work Place Violence in ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu

Emmanuel S Onah1, Chisom R Chukwunonye2 and Gloria C Eze3,4*

1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2Department of Emergency Medicine, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, LL18 1UB, Wales, United Kingdom
3Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria
4Department of Ophthalmology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Gloria C Eze, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria.

Received: July 21, 2025; Published: September 10, 2025

Abstract

Background: Globally, there is growing concern about workplace violence in healthcare settings. The likelihood and perception of violence in these settings may be influenced by a number of demographic and occupational factors. Developing successful strategies to reduce violence and enhance working conditions requires an understanding of the experiences, and perceptions of healthcare professionals.

Aim/Objectives: This study looked at healthcare workers' perceptions of changes in workplace and factors associated with workplace violence.

Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional descriptive study.

Results: A sizable percentage of respondents withheld information about their years of experience and employment status. The majority of respondents (44.8%) were full-time employees, 74% did not work shifts, and 62.1% of those who did work shifts worked day shift. More than half of the respondents (54.4%)  said they had no interaction with patients, and no direct physical contact with patients (52.6%). 22.7% of respondents said that staff conditions had gotten worse, reflecting a generally negative perception of recent workplace changes. Increasing staff (49.5%), improving security (48.5%), offering training (41.0%), and screening patients (20.9%) were among the measures suggested to lessen workplace violence. There were significant correlations between age, gender, job role and workplace violence. The highest prevalence was amongst males and those aged 30-34 years. Years of experience showed no significant correlation.

Conclusion: The study highlights that younger and male staff are more at risk of experiencing workplace violence, and despite a variety of changes in working conditions, staff shortages, poor security, and a lack of training were still perceived as contributing causes of workplace violence. Therefore, there is a need for focused interventions, such as increased security, better staffing, and conflict management training, to establish a safer and more encouraging healthcare environment.

 Keywords: Changes; Workplace; Violence

References

  1. Afolabi AA., et al. “Prevalence, pattern and factors associated with workplace violence against healthcare workers in Nigeria: A systematic review”. Ibom Medical Journal2 (2024): 166-175.
  2. Abaate T., et al. “Workplace violence against health care workers in Nigeria”. Nigerian Journal of Medicine6 (2022): 605.
  3. Charan J and Biswas T. “How to calculate sample size for different study designs in medical research?” Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine2 (2013): 121-126.
  4. Elom P., et al. “Prevalence and factors associated with workplace violence in a tertiary healthcare facility in Nigeria”. Nigerian Medical Journal2 (2024): 173-184.
  5. ILO, ICN, WHO, & PSI. “Workplace violence in the health sector - country case studies research instruments” (2003).
  6. Al-Turki N., et al. “Violence against health workers in family medicine centers”. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 9 (2016): 257-266.
  7. Okoli I E. “Organizational Climate and Job Satisfaction among Academic Staff: Experience from Selected Private Universities in Southeast Nigeria”. International Journal of Research in Business Studies and Management 5 (2018): 36-48.
  8. Yenealem D G., et al. “Violence at work: Determinants & prevalence among health care workers, northwest Ethiopia: An institutional based cross sectional study”. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine1 (2019).
  9. Moyce S C and Schenker M. “Migrant Workers and Their Occupational Health and Safety”. Annual Review of Public Health 1 (2018): 351-365.
  10. Arnetz J E., et al. “Understanding patient-to-worker violence in hospitals: A qualitative analysis of documented incident reports”. Journal of Advanced Nursing2 (2015): 338-348.
  11. Yusuf A R., et al. “Burnout Among Health Care Workers and Associated Risk Factors Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic In a Tertiary Health Care Setting”. Nigerian Frontline Medicine Journal1 (2024): 1-7.
  12. Ilikannu C O., et al. “Violence against healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in southern Nigeria a descriptive cross-sectional study”. Discover Public Health1 (2025).
  13. Okon E., et al. “Work-life Balance Strategies and Employee Performance in Nigeria’s Post-COVID-19 Era”. British Journal of Management and Marketing Studies1 (2025): 185-202.
  14. Johann A and Martinez S. “Managing Workplace Violence with Evidence-Based Interventions”. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services9 (2016): 31-36.
  15. Abodunrin OL., et al. “Prevalence and forms of violence against health care professionals in a South-Western city, Nigeria”. Sky Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences8 (2014): 067-072.
  16. Ogunkoya O A. “Organizational Culture Perspectives and Strategic Management InThe Nigeria Manufacturing Industry”. Nigerian Journal of Management Sciences1 (2019): 1-10.

Citation

Citation: Emmanuel S Onah., et al. “Worker's Perception of Changes in Workplace and Factors Associated with Work Place Violence in ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 9.10 (2025): 26-32.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Gloria C Eze., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.




Metrics

Acceptance rate30%
Acceptance to publication20-30 days
Impact Factor1.403

Indexed In





Contact US