Physician mistreatment in the clinical learning environment

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Professional Well-being

Background:

• Mistreatment is linked to burnout and poor well-being in medical students.
• Limited data exists on mistreatment experiences of surgical residents and faculty.
• Understanding mistreatment is vital for improving healthcare professional environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of mistreatment among surgical residents and faculty.
• To characterize the nature and sources of mistreatment experiences.
• To inform interventions aimed at reducing mistreatment in surgical training.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to surgical housestaff and faculty in 2018.
• The survey collected data on incidents and types of mistreatment experienced.
• Response rates were 63% for faculty and 72% for residents.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of residents (48%) and a third of faculty (29%) reported mistreatment, excluding public embarrassment.
• Residents experienced public embarrassment and humiliation more often than faculty.
• Faculty encountered racially/ethnically offensive remarks more frequently than residents, and reporting was low.

Conclusions:

• Mistreatment is a frequent occurrence for both surgical residents and faculty.
• Addressing mistreatment requires targeted strategies for different hierarchical levels and roles.
• Improving reporting mechanisms and fostering a respectful environment are essential.