Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jan 6:15:1-9.
doi: 10.2147/JHL.S392882. eCollection 2023.

Preventing and Mitigating Inter-Professional Conflict Among Healthcare Professionals in Nigeria

Obi Peter Adigwe  1 , Elijah N A Mohammed  2 , Godspower Onavbavba  1
Affiliations

Preventing and Mitigating Inter-Professional Conflict Among Healthcare Professionals in Nigeria

Obi Peter Adigwe et al. J Healthc Leadersh. .

Abstract

Introduction: The primary obligation of healthcare professionals is the well-being of patients. Inter-professional conflict can prevent the achievement of this goal, thereby potentially putting patients in peril. This study aimed at articulating contextual strategies to mitigate and prevent inter-professional conflict among healthcare workers in Nigeria.

Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken in various health facilities in Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to healthcare professionals. Completed questionnaires were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were undertaken.

Results: A total of 2207 valid responses were included for analysis. Findings revealed that almost all the respondents (92.9%) indicated that the Ministry of Health has a key role in resolving conflict in the healthcare sector. Close to three quarters (70.4%) of the study participants disagreed that leadership of hospitals and health agencies be limited to a particular profession. Almost all the participants (90.15%) indicated that cognate administrative expertise and experience are critical for leadership. A strong majority of the sample (93.5%) opined that reforms are required in the leadership selection process of hospital and other healthcare agencies.

Conclusion: Due to the criticality of this issue to patients' access to healthcare, findings from this study can underpin a proactive evidence based strategy that can comprehensively address inter-professional conflict among healthcare workers in Nigeria.

Keywords: Nigeria; conflict; healthcare; inter-professional; leadership; professionals.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Role of government in preventing conflict.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Leadership requirements for hospitals and health agencies.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Leadership reforms.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Training requirements for conflict prevention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. African Factory OO. Management: a study of some factories in Southern Nigeria. Afr Soc Rev. 1999;3(1):94–110.
    1. Kazimoto P. Analysis of Conflict Management and Leadership for Organizational Change. Int J Res Soc Sci. 2013;3(1):16–25.
    1. Mayaki S, Stewart M. Teamwork, professional identities, conflict, and industrial action in Nigerian Healthcare. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2020;13:1223–1234. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S267116 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. News Agency of Nigeria. JOHESU strike: NMA decries attacks on doctors, patients in Enugu. The guardian; 2018. Available from https://guardian.ng/features/johesu-strike-nma-decries-attacks-on-doctor.... Accessed July 7, 2021.
    1. Osaro E, Charles AT. Harmony in health sector: a requirement for effective healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2014;1(7):S1–S5. doi:10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60196-6 - DOI - PubMed