EVIDENCE THAT AN INTERVENTION ON ATTITUDINAL PREDICTORS OF INTER-PROFESSIONAL TEAM BUILDING AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS GIVES IMPROVEMENT IN NIGERIA?

Abstract

Introduction: The Nigerian health sector faces intricate inter-professional challenges in the aspect of incessant inter-professional friction among healthcare professionals that lead to poor outcomes. This study aims to investigate evidence that an intervention on attitudinal predictors of inter-professional team building among healthcare professionals gives improvement.

Methods: This was a longitudinal prospective study design using a multistage sampling technique to select respondents working at a tertiary health facility in Nnewi, Nigeria.The conceptual framework for intervention was a mix of models. There was the evaluation of change on eight variables of attitudinal predictors of inter-professional team building three months post-intervention.

Results: A total of 121 professionals were interviewed. Respondents that agreed inter-professional team building to benefit their organization were 87(71.8% ) and 111(91.8%) at pre- and post-intervention phases (p<0.01), respondents that agreed to participate in inter-professional team building were 86(70.7%) and 110(90.9%) at pre- and post-intervention phases (p<0.01), respondents that agreed to recommend inter-professional team building to improve inter-professional working relationship were 81(67.1%) and 117(97.1% ) at pre- and post-intervention phases (p<0.01), respondents that disagreed to inter-professional team building as waste of time and money were 83(63.3%) and 121(100%) at pre- and post-intervention phases (p<0.01), respondents that agreed to recommend inter-professional team building to resolve conflict were 65(53.7%) and 114(93.9%) at pre- and post-intervention phases (p<0.01), respondents that agreed assertive behaviour, cooperative attitude and courage to disagree were attitudinal predictor competencies components for effective inter-professional team membership were 44(36.6%) and 96(79.1%) , 87(71.9 %) and 118( 97.5%) and 58(47.6%) and 82(67.6%) respectively at pre- and post-intervention phases (p<0.01).

Conclusion: This study showed there is an evidence-based consistent improvement of a minimum of 20% (20% to 42.5%)with a significant statistical difference across all eight variables of attitudinal predictors of inter-professional team building among healthcare professionals in Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that the Federal Ministries of Health and Science and Technology, and related Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria implement interventions on attitudinal predictors of inter-professional team building among healthcare professionals to fast track Medical Biotechnology for Nigeria to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.