Managing disruptive physician behavior: Impact on staff relationships and patient care (21 April 2008)

Summary

Disruptive behaviour can have a significant impact on care delivery, which can adversely affect patient safety and quality outcomes of care. Disruptive behaviour occurs across all disciplines but is of particular concern when it involves physicians and nurses who have primary responsibility for patient care. There is a higher frequency of disruptive behaviour in neurologists compared to most other nonsurgical specialties.

Disruptive behaviour causes stress, anxiety, frustration, and anger, which can impede communication and collaboration, which can result in avoidable medical errors, adverse events, and other compromises in quality care. Healthcare organisations need to be aware of the significance of disruptive behaviours and develop appropriate policies, standards, and procedures to effectively deal with this serious issue and reinforce appropriate standards of behaviour.

Having a better understanding of what contributes to, incites, or provokes disruptive behaviours will help organizations provide appropriate educational and training programs that can lessen the likelihood of occurrence and improve the overall effectiveness of communication among the health care team.