As physician burnout continues to plague the healthcare industry, a new survey reveals a high prevalence of workplace mistreatment.
Nearly 1 in 4 physicians reported they had experienced mistreatment in the last year, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open. Mistreatment has an association with occupational distress, but, historically, past studies have focused on mistreatment of residents with less attention on practicing physicians, according to researchers.
Mistreatment is common among trainees––two-thirds of women in a national survey of general surgery residents reported they experienced gender-based harassment, compared to 10% of men. Common sources of mistreatment include colleagues, patients, visitors and supervising physicians, but few studies have directly addressed mistreatment by patients and visitors.
Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine conducted an administrative survey through an independent third-party survey administrator between September and October of 2020. All respondents had MD or DO degrees, with the exception of 20 clinical psychologists. The survey included the Professional Fulfillment Index, a measurement of burnout and professional fulfillment demonstrated to have good reliability and construct validity, along with a standardized question about intent to leave within the next 2 years.
More than 1,500 physicians responded to the survey, 23.4% reported experiencing workplace mistreatment in the past 12 months. Mistreatment by visitors and patients––the most common form of mistreatment––was reported by 16.6% of physicians. The second most common form of mistreatment came from other physicians (7.1%). Verbal mistreatment was the most frequent form of mistreatment, reported by 21.5% of physicians, followed by sexual harassment (5.4%) and physical intimidation or abuse (5.2%).
Mistreatment plays a big role in intent to leave, researchers found, as any form of mistreatment was associated with 129% higher odds of reporting moderate or greater intent to leave within 2 years. Organizations with the highest protective workplace systems had lower intent to leave, compared to those with the lowest rating of protective workplace systems, which were associated with 711% higher odds of moderate or greater intent to leave. That means healthcare organizations can make changes to improve mistreatment and retain physicians––a critical finding amid a tight labor market.
“We found a strong association between mistreatment and worse occupational well-being, including increased burnout, reduced professional fulfillment, and higher reported intent to leave the organization,” wrote first author Susannah G. Rowe, MD, MPH, of the Boston University Medical Group, et al. “Conversely, having systems in place that protect physicians from mistreatment is associated with increased occupational well-being, both for those who experienced mistreatment and those who did not.”
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."