WORKPLACE VIOLENCE AGAINST HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, PORT HARCOURT.

ABSTRACT Workplace violence is an act of inflict harm which could be physical or verbal to a healthcare worker in the hospital setting. Workplace violence is one thing that is inevitable in any environment, organization and workplace. The aim of this study is to evaluate workplace violence against healthcare workers in RSUTH, Port Harcourt with the following objectives to determine; the frequency, triggers, types of workplace violence and to assess the effects of violence against health care workers in the RUSTH. A cross-sectional investigation was used for this study and a simple random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was a self-structured questionnaire titled Workplace Violence Against Healthcare Workers In Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Questionnaire (WVAHWRQ).The findings of the study indicated that (100%) of the respondent had one way witnessed workplace violence in the hospital. It was noted that (100%) of the participants indicated that the cause of workplace violence includes; lack of patients or relatives understanding of patients’ medical condition, problems of communication and unmet demands of patients and relatives. The findings of this study indicated that verbal violence was the highest types of violence (82.7%) and physical violence (17.3%). The findings of this study indicated that the effect of violence against health care workers include , low self-esteem, anxiety during working hours, and stress respectively. It was recommended that healthcare workers should be educated on what workplace violence is all about in the hospital and how to easily identify and manage them when faced with it. In conclusion workplace violence against healthcare workers occurs in RUSTH with a good managerial strategy. Keywords: Workplace, Violence, Healthcare Worke