An Assessment of Medical Doctors - Nurses Collaborative Working Relationship and Associated Factors Towards Improving Clients ' Healthcare in ATB University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi

Abstract

The study was carried on the assessment of medical doctors' - nurses' perception on their collaborative working relationship and associated factors towards improving client’s health care problems in ATBU Teaching Hospital Bauchi. It adopted a descriptive survey research design and collected data from medical personnel in ATB University Teaching Hospital Bauchi. The number of respondents used in this study was 720 doctors and nurses. Out of this population, sample of 254 respondents were selected in this study based on stratified proportionate sampling and the accidental sampling techniques. The instrument for data collection used in this study was a structured questionnaire. It was validated and a pilot study was carried on 30 doctors and nurses in Specialist hospital in Bauchi metropolis. A reliability coefficient of 98 of the instrument was obtained. The result shows that nurses and doctors perceived their working relationship positively and that nurses’ and doctors’ responsibilities is collaborative and complimentary to each other. Factors that influences positive working relationship between doctors and nurses the study discovered, include effective mutual respect and trust, and effective communication. In addition, the study also discovered that providing opportunities for joint training programs and workshops between doctors and nurses will encourage mutual respect and recognition, and will improve the collaborative working relationship between them. However, majority of the respondents did not believe that all the positions of authority in the hospital should be held by the medical doctors.