ASSESSMENT OF INTER PROFESSIONAL CONFLICT AMONG HEALTH WORKERS IN GENERAL HOSPITAL HADEJIA, JIGAWA STATE

Abstract

 Inter-professional conflict is a persistent challenge within healthcare systems, particularly in multi-disciplinary settings where diverse professionals collaborate in patient management. This study assessed inter-professional conflict among healthcare workers at Hadejia General Hospital, Jigawa State, Nigeria, with a focus on identifying causative factors, evaluating its impact on patient outcomes, and examining the role of professionals in conflict resolution. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and 120 healthcare workers were sampled using stratified random sampling. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that conflicts were most common between nurses and community health extension workers (32%), followed by nurses and physicians (29%). Major causes of conflict included superiority complex (21%), professional bias (13%), and role duplication, particularly in laboratory investigations (20%). The consequences of inter-professional conflict were significant, with 44.1% of respondents reporting patient complications, 22.5% citing deterioration of patient condition, and 46.6% identifying burnout in healthcare delivery systems. The study also showed that management efforts such as communication with staff (80%) and policies like equal opportunities frameworks (40%) were key strategies in mitigating conflicts. The study concludes that inter-professional conflict negatively affects patient outcomes, teamwork efficiency, and job satisfaction. It recommends strengthening inter-professional collaboration, enforcing clear role delineation, and instituting robust conflict resolution frameworks to improve healthcare delivery.