THE EFFECT OF WORK ENVIRONMENT ON TRAINING TRANSFER AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN GOVERNMENT-OWNED HEALTH FACILITIES IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study attempts to examine the degree to which training transfer is influenced by work environment among healthcare workers in public health facilities in Niger State, Nigeria. The research adopted a survey design and collected primary data through self-administered questionnaires distributed to 436 nurses in Niger State using a simple random sampling technique. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the effect of work environment alongside other factors on training transfer. Contrary to expectations, the work environment had a very small and non-significant effect on training transfer in the healthcare sector in Nigeria (β = 0.05, p = 0.39, f² = 0.00). The model explained 68% of the variance in training transfer (R² = 0.68), indicating high explanatory power. On the other hand, trainer characteristics, trainee characteristics, and cultural context showed significant positive effects on transfer. These results suggest that in the studied Nigerian healthcare context, factors such as trainer quality and trainee readiness play a more immediate role in applying training than do environmental supports. To this end, policymakers are advised to lay more emphasis on trainer effectiveness and aligning training design with workers’ cultural context, while  also striving to maintain a supportive workplace climate for sustained professional development.