AN EXAMINATION ON THE IMPACT OF RESILIENCE IN PATIENT CARE QUALITY IN UCTH

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study 

In recent years, the notion of resilience has become increasingly significant in the healthcare sector, owing to its essential function in addressing the challenges encountered by healthcare practitioners. The concept of resilience, characterised by the capacity to bounce back from challenges, adjust to new circumstances, and sustain optimal performance under pressure, holds significant importance in the realm of patient care. The fast-paced and frequently intense conditions of healthcare settings, characterised by extended hours, emotional challenges, and physical requirements, render resilience an essential quality for those in the field, particularly for nurses and physicians (Smith et al., 2022). Given that the quality of patient care is significantly shaped by the well-being and effectiveness of healthcare providers, it is crucial to investigate the role of resilience in enhancing the quality of care provided to patients.

The ability to withstand challenges in the healthcare sector allows professionals to navigate the inherent stressors of their roles, ultimately influencing the results for patients. When healthcare professionals demonstrate resilience, they are more equipped to deliver consistent, compassionate, and high-quality care, even when confronted with various challenges. Research conducted by Westphal et al. (2021) revealed that healthcare professionals exhibiting elevated resilience levels showed superior decision-making skills, greater emotional stability, and enhanced interpersonal relationships with patients, ultimately leading to improved quality of patient care. The results indicate that resilience serves a dual purpose, proving advantageous not just for those delivering healthcare, but also for patients who depend on prompt, efficient, and compassionate treatment.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of resilience in ensuring the quality of patient care. The extraordinary pressures faced by healthcare systems throughout the pandemic subjected healthcare professionals to significant stress, resulting in burnout, emotional fatigue, and a reduced ability to provide the highest standard of care. Research indicates that healthcare professionals who demonstrate resilience are more inclined to uphold patient safety standards and deliver high-quality care, even in challenging circumstances (Maben & Bridges, 2020). This highlights the notion that resilience serves as a protective factor against the negative impacts of stress, allowing healthcare professionals to persist in providing patient-centered care even in the most challenging situations.

The concept of resilience within the healthcare sector is gaining acknowledgement as an essential element of proficient patient care, especially in low- and middle-income nations such as Nigeria. The ability to withstand challenges enables healthcare professionals to manage substantial workloads, emotional fatigue, and outside pressures, all while delivering empathetic and effective care to those they serve. In Nigeria, healthcare workers face ongoing challenges due to resource constraints and high levels of occupational stress. In this context, resilience emerges as an essential quality to maintain the quality of patient care amid these pressures. The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2023) has highlighted the critical need for strengthening resilience within healthcare systems, especially in nations such as Nigeria, where the healthcare framework is challenged by rising patient demand and constrained resources.

A significant element influencing the necessity for resilience in Nigerian healthcare is the persistent socioeconomic instability, which frequently interrupts healthcare services and imposes extra pressures on healthcare providers. Nigerian healthcare workers often face significant challenges stemming from the nation's economic hardships, regular strikes, and inadequate working environments, which lead to burnout and a deterioration in the quality of patient care (Adebayo & Bello, 2023). Moreover, the significant occurrence of communicable diseases, along with the increasing rates of non-communicable diseases, has placed considerable strain on the healthcare system, highlighting the necessity for resilience among healthcare professionals to maintain continuity and quality in patient care delivery.

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties also plays a significant role in alleviating the effects of emotional stressors on those in the healthcare profession. In the realm of patient care, practitioners frequently encounter life-threatening scenarios, the loss of patients, and the emotional burden associated with tending to critically ill individuals. In the absence of resilience, these stressors may result in emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, and, ultimately, a decline in the quality of care delivered. The capacity of healthcare professionals to recover from these emotional challenges is essential for sustaining the quality of patient care (Eze & Udeh, 2022).

Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for resilience within the healthcare sector. The pandemic in Nigeria exerted extraordinary pressure on healthcare systems, resulting in heightened workloads, resource deficiencies, and emotional challenges for those working in the field. The capacity of healthcare professionals to maintain resilience throughout this period was essential in upholding the quality of patient care, even in the face of the significant challenges presented by the pandemic (Adeoye et al., 2022). The experience of the pandemic underscored the necessity for strategies that foster and enhance resilience among healthcare professionals, equipping them for upcoming health emergencies.

Resilience plays a crucial role in delivering quality patient care within Nigeria’s healthcare system, which faces numerous challenges, including insufficient resources, elevated patient-to-caregiver ratios, and recurring occupational stressors. Fostering resilience in healthcare professionals is crucial for addressing the impacts of these challenges and maintaining the sustainability of high-quality patient care. As Nigeria navigates its internal systemic challenges and external health crises, cultivating resilience within its healthcare workforce will be essential for enhancing patient outcomes and fortifying the overall healthcare system.

 Statement of the problem

The calibre of patient care within healthcare institutions serves as a crucial factor influencing health outcomes and the overall satisfaction of patients. In recent years, healthcare systems have encountered significant challenges, such as workforce shortages, elevated patient-to-nurse ratios, and the emotional strain associated with delivering care in high-pressure environments (Van Bogaert, 2019). The challenges faced have exerted considerable pressure on healthcare professionals, especially nurses, to uphold exceptional standards of care. As a result, resilience has become an essential element that affects how healthcare practitioners handle workplace stress, address burnout, and maintain the quality of care provided to patients. Notwithstanding this, the degree to which resilience influences the quality of patient care is still inadequately examined, especially in ever-changing healthcare settings where stress and burnout are common (Jackson, 2018).

The standard of patient care in Nigeria continues to be a pressing issue, stemming from various obstacles encountered by healthcare systems, such as insufficient infrastructure, restricted resources, and overwhelmed healthcare practitioners. Amidst these challenges, resilience emerges as a vital element affecting the capacity of healthcare professionals, especially nurses and frontline personnel, to provide reliable, high-quality care (Ogueji, 2022). The ability to bounce back swiftly from difficulties, adjust effectively to changes, and sustain productivity under pressure is crucial for ensuring consistent service delivery, especially in the face of challenges within the Nigerian healthcare system.

While resilience is acknowledged as an important element, there remains a lack of comprehensive research examining its direct influence on the quality of patient care in Nigeria. Current research predominantly examines the relationship between resilience and factors such as burnout, mental health, and job satisfaction in healthcare professionals (Adeyemo, 2023), yet there is a scarcity of studies that directly connect resilience to quantifiable patient outcomes. The absence of research in this area poses a significant challenge, as it hinders the creation of focused strategies that could enhance resilience and, consequently, lead to better patient care results. As healthcare professionals in Nigeria navigate numerous challenges, such as a persistent shortage of medical personnel, inadequate working environments, and the emotional strain of handling extensive patient volumes (Ekpenyong, 2023), it is crucial to comprehend how resilience can alleviate these issues and improve the quality of care.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities of healthcare systems globally, particularly in Nigeria, where healthcare professionals encountered extraordinary difficulties. The pandemic underscored the significance of resilience, not only for safeguarding the well-being of healthcare workers but also for guaranteeing the continuity and quality of care delivered to patients (Akinwale & Osamuyimen, 2021). Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the ways in which resilience can be cultivated and maintained among healthcare professionals to enhance patient care results. Without a more profound comprehension of the significance of resilience, the Nigerian healthcare system faces the peril of further deterioration in the quality of patient care, intensified by persistent systemic challenges and health crises.

Thus, this study seeks to address the gap in knowledge by investigating the impact of resilience on the quality of patient care in Nigeria, offering insights into how resilience can be enhanced among healthcare workers to ensure better patient outcomes and a more sustainable healthcare system.

1.3 Objectives of the Study 

The primary objective of this study is to carry out an examination on the impact of resilience in patient care quality in UCTH. Specifically the study seeks:

To assess the level of resilience among healthcare workers at UCTH.

To analyze the relationship between healthcare workers' resilience and the quality of patient care provided at UCTH.

To investigate the effects of healthcare workers' resilience on patient outcomes and satisfaction levels in UCTH.

To propose strategies for strengthening healthcare workers' resilience in order to improve overall patient care quality in UCTH.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will be answered in this study:

What is the level of resilience among healthcare workers at UCTH?

What is the relationship between healthcare workers' resilience and the quality of patient care provided at UCTH?

What are the effects of healthcare workers' resilience on patient outcomes and satisfaction levels in UCTH?

What are the strategies for strengthening healthcare workers' resilience in order to improve overall patient care quality in UCTH?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The stated hypothesis will validate this study:

Ho1: There is no significant impact of resilience in patient care quality in UCTH.

Ha1: There is a significant impact of resilience in patient care quality in UCTH.

1.6 Significance of the study

This research carries significant relevance for the formulation of healthcare policies and the management of the workforce. Should resilience be established as a crucial factor in upholding exceptional standards of patient care, healthcare administrators may focus on implementing initiatives that foster resilience, including stress management training, mentorship programs, and peer support systems. 

This research will also enhance the scholarly discourse on resilience in healthcare, providing empirical evidence that connects resilience with tangible improvements in the quality of patient care. 

Ultimately, the research holds considerable importance for society, as it may pave the way for enhancements in healthcare results for individuals. Providing exceptional patient care is essential for minimising medical errors, enhancing patient satisfaction, and fostering recovery and overall well-being. This study highlights the significance of resilience in attaining these outcomes, potentially motivating healthcare systems to embrace comprehensive strategies for professional growth, thereby enhancing the overall quality of healthcare services provided to communities.

1.7 Scope of the study

The study examines the impact of resilience in patient care quality in UCTH. Empirically, this study assesses the level of resilience among healthcare workers, the relationship between healthcare workers' resilience and the quality of patient care provided, the effects of healthcare workers' resilience on patient outcomes and satisfaction levels and the strategies for strengthening healthcare workers' resilience in order to improve overall patient care quality.

This study will be carried out in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

1.8 Limitation of the study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scanty literature on the subject owing that it is a new discourse thus the researcher incurred more financial expenses and much time was required in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. Additionally, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. However in spite of the constraint all these constraint were downplayed to give the best.

1.9 Definition of terms

Resilience: Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or setbacks. It refers to a person, system, or organization's capacity to adapt to challenging circumstances and bounce back stronger.

Healthcare workers: Healthcare workers are professionals who provide medical services and care to individuals to promote, maintain, or restore health. This group includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and other medical staff involved in diagnosing, treating, and supporting patients in healthcare settings.

Patient care: Patient care refers to the services and actions provided by healthcare professionals to ensure the well-being, treatment, and recovery of individuals who are ill, injured, or in need of medical attention. It includes physical, emotional, and mental support to improve the patient's health and quality of life.

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