BMC Medical Education (Apr 2020)

Prevalence and correlates of bullying in physiotherapy education in Nigeria

  • Chidozie Emmanuel Mbada,
  • Idowu Phebean Ogunseun,
  • Francis Oluwafunso Fasuyi,
  • Oluwafemi David Adegbemigun,
  • Clara Toyin Fatoye,
  • Opeyemi Ayodiipo Idowu,
  • Olubusola Esther Johnson,
  • Adesola Christiana Odole,
  • Adaobi Margaret Okonji,
  • Bashir Kaka,
  • Francis Fatoye

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-020-02019-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background Bullying is an unexpressed part and parcel of medical education but it is largely unexplored in physiotherapy. This study assessed the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of bullying in physiotherapy education in Nigeria. Methods Two hundred and nineteen clinical physiotherapy students from three purposively selected Federal Universities in Nigeria participated in this study. Following a cross-sectional design, the Students Perception of Professor Bullying Questionnaire (SPPBQ) was used to obtain information on bullying. The SPPBQ includes a working definition of lecturer bullying followed by other sections inquiring about lecturers bullying experiences. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, bullying experiences and availability of adequate policy and support on bullying. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used analyze data. Alpha level was set at p < 0.05. Results Lifetime and point prevalence of bullying in physiotherapy education were 98.6 and 99.1%. 94.5% of the respondents had witnessed physiotherapy students bullying and there was a 100% rate of ‘no attempt’ to stop a physiotherapy lecturer from bullying. 38.4 and 44.7% of the respondents believed there was adequate school policy and support available on bullying. There was no significant association between bullying and each of age (휒2 = 0.117, p = 0.943), gender (휒2 = 0.001, p = 0.974), level of study (휒2 = 0.000, p = 0.995) and any specific university (휒2 = 1.343, p = 0.511). Conclusion There is high lifetime and point prevalence of bullying in physiotherapy education in Nigeria, which are largely unchallenged or redressed. Being a clinical physiotherapy student ordinarily predisposes to bullying without necessary contributions of intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

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