Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

Background: Globally, nurses make up a significant part of the healthcare workforce with firsthand knowledge that can lend expertise to discussions that impact healthcare delivery. Nursing practice has been intimately tied to government and politics than almost any other profession. On the contrary, many studies indicate that nurses are seldom involved in the political arena; hence the need to encourage them to participate at all levels of healthcare. Objectives: To determine the perceived levels of political efficacy (PE) and political participation (PP), and to explore the relationship between PE and PP among nurses in tertiary hospitals, the Republic of Kenya. Methodology: This descriptive correlational study involved nurses working in two tertiary hospitals. Total population was 2600, of which 347 subjects with a working experience of not less than three years were selected as the sample using proportional stratified random sampling method. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of three parts was used to assess the demographic characteristics, PE-scale and PP-scale. The reliability of PE-scale and PP-scale were both 0.82. Results: A majority of the subjects were females (75.5%); at diploma level of education (60.5%) and within an age group of ΓΆΒ?Β¤40 years (66.2%). The scores for PE (x=61.57, SD=12.79) and PP (x=46.3, SD=10.22) were at moderate level. There was a moderate positive correlation between PE and PP (r=0.312, p<0.01). Conclusions/Recommendations: The study outcome is a clear indication that nurses participate minimally in the political arena. Nurses as citizens in a democracy and as a professional group in nursing organizations have particular demands that can only be satisfied through political action. Nurses should seek opportunities to be strong political participants, able to articulate health issues to policymakers and skilled at working within a community of specialists to generate alternatives to existing policies.

Biography

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