Seyoum Kassa*, Fanuel Anteneh, Abebe Bezabih, Dereje Gullilat
Background: Workplace bullying is a prevalent issue in healthcare environments worldwide, and surgical residents are particularly vulnerable to such behavior. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and nature of workplace bullying among surgical residents at Tikur Anbessa specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 15, 2021, to September 15, 2021. The prevalence of bullying was measured using both a definition of workplace bullying and the revised Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ-R). The sources of bullying, barriers to reporting, and outcomes of formal reporting were also examined.
Results: Out of 194 surgical residents, 158 (81%) responded to the survey. The study found that 60.8% of respondents reported having been bullied to some degree, and 82.1% witnessed bullying of surgical colleagues in the last 12 months. The most common negative behaviors experienced were being ordered to do work below their level of competence and having opinions ignored. Consultant surgeons and nurses were the most common sources of bullying. Only 3.1% of those who reported being bullied made a formal complaint, with the most common reason for not reporting being that nothing would change.
Conclusions: The study reveals that workplace bullying is a significant problem among surgical residents at Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital, Ethiopia. The findings suggest the need for further research to explore the problem in-depth and devise effective prevention strategies. Identifying the sources of bullying and barriers to reporting is crucial.
Published Date: 2025-01-17; Received Date: 2023-08-01
