WORKPLACE BEHAVIOUR: PERCEIVED OBLIGATION AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CONSCIENTIOUSNESS IN NIGERIAN TEACHING HOSPITALS

Abstract

The dynamics of workplace behaviour in healthcare setting have been a focal point of research, particularly in understanding how internal and external factors influence professional conduct. Hence, this study examined the effect of perceived obligation on healthcare professional conscientiousness; a study of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin Kwara State. Specifically, the study examined: the effect of patient care responsibilities; teamwork and cooperation; and confidentiality and privacy on healthcare professional conscientiousness. Survey research design was adopted with a population of 1526 total number of healthcare professionals in the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Taro Yamane was used to determine 308 sample size. A structured questionnaire was administered to the respondents. Data collected was analysed using PLS SEM. Findings revealed that teamwork and cooperation have the strongest effect on healthcare professional conscientiousness (β = 0.424, t = 5.534, p < 0.000), followed by patient care responsibilities (β = 0.235, t = 3.783, p < 0.000), and confidentiality and privacy (β = 0.231, t = 2.910, p = 0.004). The study concluded that perceived obligation is significantly vital for healthcare professional conscientiousness in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. It therefore strongly recommended that to achieve healthcare professional conscientiousness at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, the management should ensure that the essential features of perceived obligation, such as confidentiality and privacy, teamwork and cooperation, and patient care responsibilities, are adequately practised within the organisation