Exploring The State of Spousal Communication among Shift Workers: A Case Study of Health Sector Workers in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Abstract

Purpose: The study investigated spousal communication among shift workers in the health sector in Cape Coast, Ghana. The research was aimed at examining the association between different shift-work schedule types and three spousal communication parameters: frequency, quality, and satisfaction.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: This study adopted a quantitative research approach and a cross-section survey design. A survey of 128 married shift workers across three urban health facilities participated in the study. The participants responded to the questionnaire instrument and the collected data was processed through the use of quantitative tools. The researcher utilized box plots as well as analyses of variance to discuss the relationships between communication parameters and shift schedules of participants.
 Findings: The researcher found that the frequency, quality, and pleasure of spousal communication might not be inherently impaired by shift work. The study also found no significant differences in schedule types between rotating and fixed shifts, nor did the direction of rotation impact quality. It is concluded that variables other than shift type may affect couples, including cultural influences, social support, and personal coping mechanisms.
 Research Limitation/Implications: The findings of this research are limited to the opinions of the participants, which means that the results may not be generalized to other contexts.
 Practical Implication: There is a need for hospitals to consider scheduling spouses outside the afternoon schedule since it has a significant effect on the frequency of spousal communication.
 Social Implication: The study encourages reexamining shift work's effects in different cultural contexts and suggests tailored interventions to support shift workers.
 Originality/Value: The study is based on the design and implementation of the researcher, and there is no evidence of publication of this work in any other journal by either the researcher or others. The work is an original piece and there is no other contributor aside from the researcher.