NURSING STUDENT PERCEPTION TOWARDS INTERPERSONAL COLLABORATION IN ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, ABAKALIKI

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Inter-professional collaboration is the cooperative effort of several healthcare professionals working together to accomplish shared objectives, and it is crucial for delivering complete care. Nevertheless, the nature of this collaboration might be impacted by various factors, including professional hierarchy, communication obstacles, and disparities in experience and expertise (D’Amour et al., 2018). The importance of interpersonal teamwork in healthcare delivery is being increasingly acknowledged, especially in challenging and resource-constrained settings like Nigeria. The effectiveness of patient treatment is greatly impacted by the capacity of healthcare personnel to collaborate as a unified team. The collaboration is particularly vital in medical facilities, where the amalgamation of diverse expertise, knowledge, and viewpoints is essential to meet the complex requirements of patients. Furthermore, the cooperation between different healthcare professionals enables the team to effectively utilise the combined abilities and experience of its members, beyond what any individual could do on their own (Vanderwielen et al., 2019; Breitbach & Richardson, 2018). 

Collaboration among healthcare professionals leads to enhanced patient outcomes and increased satisfaction levels (Wong et al., 2019). Health care institutions, including nursing students, must recognise that inter-professional collaboration entails more than simply working alongside others, but rather effectively working with individuals from different disciplines.Nursing students, being the future healthcare providers, have a crucial role in this collaborative process. Their views towards interpersonal collaboration are essential for comprehending and enhancing teamwork in Nigerian hospitals.Interpersonal collaboration in healthcare refers to the cooperation and interaction of different healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, chemists, and other allied health workers, with the aim of accomplishing shared objectives in patient care. Collaboration necessitates efficient communication, reciprocal esteem, collective decision-making, and a distinct comprehension of the responsibilities of each team member. Salas et al. (2018) found that effective collaboration in healthcare environments can result in better patient outcomes, less errors, and increased job satisfaction among healthcare professionals. Nevertheless, when it comes to Nigerian hospitals, the attainment of such cooperation is frequently hindered by obstacles such as hierarchical impediments, limitations in resources, and cultural disparities.

Apparently, nursing students in Nigeria encounter these dynamics as part of their clinical training, which is essential for their professional growth. Their encounters and interpretations at this crucial phase can greatly shape their views towards cooperation in their future professions. Onasoga et al. (2020) emphasised that nursing students in Nigeria frequently face a healthcare setting characterised by a hierarchical structure, wherein doctors typically hold the most authority in decision-making. This hierarchical structure might engender feelings of inferiority among nurses and nursing students, so dissuading them from actively engaging in collaborative endeavours and making valuable contributions to patient care deliberations. Although, nursing students' sense of interpersonal collaboration is also shaped by their experiences with other healthcare professionals during their clinical rotations. The dispositions and actions of physicians, experienced nurses, and other members of the team towards cooperation can have a long-lasting impact on nursing students. Nursing students are more likely to develop positive views towards collaboration when these professionals exhibit a collaborative approach. On the other hand, if they notice a lack of cooperation or experience animosity, they might develop a more pessimistic perspective. Afolayan et al. (2018) argue that mentorship and role modelling from experienced healthcare professionals play a vital role in influencing the perspectives of nursing students towards teamwork. Given the importance of this function, this study aims to examine nursing student perception towards interpersonal collaboration in Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

Statement of the Problem

In recent times, collaboration among healthcare practitioners from different professions have enhanced the effectiveness of their talents as individuals and as a team, allowing them to achieve better outcomes than they could on their own (Vanderwielen et al., 2019; Breitbach & Richardson, 2019). Nevertheless, Nigeria's healthcare system is intricate and frequently encounters substantial obstacles, such as restricted resources, insufficient infrastructure, and elevated patient-to-caregiver ratios (Ogunbanjo & Omole, 2020). These problems can create tension in the collaborative work of healthcare professionals, which may result in unfavourable attitudes and experiences for nursing students. Although literature continuously emphasises the significance of interdisciplinary education and collaboration among healthcare professionals, there is a noticeable lack of study on these subjects within the Nigerian context. 

Christine Straub et al. (2020) conducted a study on the opinions of nursing staff and physicians regarding interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in paediatrics. Similarly, Benjamin Ansa et al. (2018) investigated the attitudes and actions of healthcare professionals towards IPC in an academic medical centre. Nevertheless, these research were frequently carried out in isolated environments or focused on certain medical departments, resulting in a lack of comprehension regarding how these dynamics manifest in larger populations.  More so, the literature on nursing education in Nigeria has primarily concentrated on curriculum content, instructional techniques, and student performance (Olumide et al., 2019). However, there is a notable deficiency in comprehending the attitudes and experiences of nursing students regarding interprofessional collaboration when they are undertaking their clinical placements. The absence of understanding is worrisome, considering the crucial significance of teamwork and collaboration in contemporary healthcare provision. Hence, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to examine nursing student perception towards interpersonal collaboration in Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

 1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine nursing student perception towards interpersonal collaboration in Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Specifically, the study will;

Find out whether nursing students have  an understanding of inter-professional collaboration concepts at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

Find out the factors that influence nursing students' perceptions of inter-professional collaboration.

Find out the challenges of inter-professional collaboration in Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

Suggest educational strategies that can enhance nursing students' engagement in inter-professional collaboration.

1.4  Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

Do nursing students at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, understand the concepts of inter-professional collaboration?

What factors influence nursing students' perceptions of inter-professional collaboration at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki?

What are the challenges of inter-professional collaboration at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki?

What educational strategies can be suggested to enhance nursing students' engagement in inter-professional collaboration?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0: Nursing students do not have a positive perception towards interpersonal collaboration.

Ha: Nursing students have a positive perception towards interpersonal collaboration.

1.6 Significance of the Study

Teachers and administrators at Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital and other similar establishments will find great value in the study's conclusions. Furthermore, the research will facilitate the development of focused interventions aimed at rectifying any misunderstandings or unfavorable perspectives regarding cooperation. This will guarantee that recent graduates are more equipped to function well in interdisciplinary teams, improving the general standard of care given in medical facilities.

Nevertheless, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review.

1.7 Scope of the study   

The scope of this study is boarded on nursing student perception towards interpersonal collaboration in Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Empirically, the study will find out whether nursing students have  an understanding of inter-professional collaboration concepts, the factors that influence nursing students' perceptions of inter-professional collaboration, and the challenges of inter-professional collaboration and suggest educational strategies that can enhance nursing students' engagement in inter-professional collaboration.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. 

1.8 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Interpersonal Collaboration: The extent and quality of interaction, communication, and cooperation among healthcare professionals to achieve shared patient care goals.

Perception: The beliefs, attitudes, and understanding that nursing students have regarding interpersonal collaboration.

Nursing Students: Individuals enrolled in a nursing program and undergoing clinical training or practical experience.

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