Workplace bullying in surgery: exploring the drivers and mitigators

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Organizational Psychology
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Workplace bullying is a significant issue in surgical environments, impacting team dynamics and patient care.
• Social Identity Theory (SIT) and psychological safety models offer frameworks for understanding group behavior and safety climates.
• The role of individual personality traits in mediating workplace behaviors within surgical teams requires further exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the drivers and mitigators of workplace bullying in Australian and New Zealand surgical settings.
• To examine the influence of personality traits as a bridge between bullying drivers and mitigators.
• To integrate Social Identity Theory (SIT) with psychological safety and personality theories to understand surgical culture.

Main Methods:

• Conducted qualitative interviews with 31 surgeons.
• Employed thematic analysis, supported by NVivo software, for data analysis.
• Mapped findings to the SIT framework, incorporating psychological safety and personality theories.

Main Results:

• Key drivers identified: entrenched hierarchies, gender dynamics, and competitive early socialization.
• Personality traits (e.g., narcissism, low emotional intelligence) can exacerbate bullying, while empathy and interpersonal awareness can mitigate it.
• Effective leadership, generational shifts, and stable teams through procedural inclusion are crucial mitigators promoting psychological safety.

Conclusions:

• Addressing power imbalances and fostering inclusive leadership are critical for bullying mitigation in surgery.
• Promoting psychological safety and embracing generational change can transform surgical culture, improving team health and patient outcomes.
• This study offers novel insights by integrating SIT with personality and psychological safety theories, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions in surgical teams.