Patient Initiated Discrimination and Harassment-A Descriptive Survey of Experiences Within a Single Academic...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Workplace Diversity
• Healthcare Professional Well-being

Background:

• Orthopedics faces challenges in workforce diversity, with ongoing efforts to improve inclusivity.
• Discrimination and harassment are prevalent, with patients identified as an underrecognized source of negative workplace behaviors.
• Existing initiatives primarily address peer and supervisory behaviors, overlooking patient-initiated conduct.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of patient-initiated discrimination and harassment in an academic orthopedic department.
• To identify methods for reducing these negative workplace behaviors.

Main Methods:

• An internet-based survey was distributed to all employees within a single academic orthopedic department.
• The survey collected data on demographics, experiences with patient-initiated discrimination/harassment, and potential interventions.
• Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher exact test.

Main Results:

• Over half of respondents (57%) reported experiencing or observing patient-initiated discrimination.
• Nearly half (46%) reported experiencing or observing patient-initiated harassment.
• Female physicians reported these encounters more frequently, with gender discrimination and sexual harassment being common; visual aids were suggested as a potential intervention.

Conclusions:

• Patients are a significant source of discrimination and harassment within orthopedics, impacting the workplace environment.
• Identifying and addressing patient-initiated behaviors is essential for protecting staff and promoting inclusivity.
• Minimizing these negative behaviors can aid in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce in orthopedics.