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Showing results for tags 'Behaviour'.
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News Article
Sexual harassment of NHS staff widespread
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
NHS staff including ambulance workers, porters, nurses and cleaners have been shown pornographic images, offered money for sex, and assaulted at work, according to new research. The widespread incidents of sexual harassment are revealed in a wide-ranging survey published by the Unison union on the first day of its annual health conference in Brighton. In the study of more than 12,200 health workers, one in 10 reported unwanted incidents including being touched or kissed, demands for sex in return for favours, and derogatory comments. Royal College of Nursing chief nurse Professor Nicola Ranger said: “These figures paint an incredibly disturbing picture." In the survey, sexual assault was reported by 29% of respondents who had experienced harassment, while half said they have been leered at or been the target of suggestive gestures. One in four who had been harassed said they have suffered unwelcome sexual advances, propositions or demands for sexual favours. Half the staff had not reported sexual harassment to their employer, amid concerns of being considered “over-sensitive” or feeling complaints would not be acted on. Read full story Source: BBC News, 8 April 2024- Posted
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Content ArticleThe health action process approach (HAPA) is a social-cognitive model that specifies motivational and volitional determinants of health behaviour. This meta-analysis of studies applying the HAPA in health behaviour contexts estimates the size and variability of correlations among model constructs, test model predictions and test effects of past behaviour and moderators on model relations.
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Content ArticleHospital staff members experience 1.17 aggressive events — verbal and/or physical — for every 40 hours worked, with more aggression events occurring when staff have significantly greater numbers of patients assigned to them this study from DeSanto Iennaco et al. found. The study, published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, examined incidence of patient and visitor aggressive events toward staff at five inpatient medical units in community hospitals and academic hospitals in the Northeastern U.S. The data was collected using even counters, aggressive incident and management logs and demographic forms over a 14-day period in early 2017.
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Content ArticleThe epidemic of workplace violence has prompted the use of harsh responses that include “behaviour contracts” (sometimes called “behavioural agreements”) by US healthcare organisations. The authors of this JAMA article look at how this approach can undermine a hospital’s commitment to providing evidence-based, patient-centred care and highlight other approaches to dealing with patient aggression and violence in healthcare settings.
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Content ArticleHealth-compromising behaviours such as cigarette smoking and poor dietary habits are difficult to change. Most social-cognitive theories assume that the intention to change is the best predictor of actual change, but people often do not behave in accordance with their intentions. Unforeseen barriers emerge, or people give in to temptations. Therefore, intentions should be supplemented by more proximal predictors that might facilitate the translation of intentions into action. Some self-regulatory mediators have been identified, such as perceived self-efficacy and strategic planning. They help to bridge the intention-behavior gap. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) suggests a distinction between (1) a preintentional motivation process that leads to a behavioural intention and (2) a postintentional volition process that facilitates the adoption and maintenance of health behaviours. In this article, two studies are reported that examine mediators between intentions and two behaviours. One behaviour is smoking reduction in young adults, the other is dietary restraint in overweight patients with chronic disease. A structural equation model, specified in terms of the HAPA, was in line with both data sets but it explained more variance of dietary behaviours among middle-aged or older individuals with a health condition whereas variance of smoking reduction in healthy young adults was less well accounted for. The findings contribute to the elucidation of psychological mechanisms in health behaviour change and point to the particular role of mediator variables.
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Content ArticleThis paper addresses the fundamental discipline theoretic question of whether situation awareness is a phenomenon best described by psychology, engineering or systems ergonomics. Each of these disciplines places a different emphasis on the notion of what situation awareness is and how it manifests itself. Each of the perspectives is presented and compared with reference to studies in aviation and other domains.
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Content ArticleThis study published in the BMJ evaluated the effect of chair placement on length of time physicians sit during a bedside consultation and patients’ satisfaction. The study concluded that chair placement is a simple, no cost, low tech intervention that increases a physician’s likelihood of sitting during a bedside consultation and resulted in higher patients’ scores for both satisfaction and communication.
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Content ArticleThis study evaluated the impact of narrative/story-based approaches to safety messages; e.g. injury stories on actual safety behaviour versus mechanistic instructions without use of anecdotes and ‘traditional abstract safety messages’. Story-based messages resulted in a 19% improvement in safety behaviour compared with non-narrative comms.
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Content ArticleA series of LinkedIn articles on systems thinking from Phil Evans, Independent HealthTech Consultant.
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Content Article
Designing in risk: Measuring safety part 3
NMacLeod posted an article in Improving patient safety
The relationship between management and the workforce, in very simplistic terms, can be considered one of reward in return for effort. The contracted effort is communicated through a roster. In organisations that have a continuous operation, blocks of effort are distributed to maintain the flow of output. The organisation of effort, then, is a legitimate function of management. Norman's previous blog looked at performance variability under normal conditions. In this blog, Norman looks at the impact of physiological states and how management’s organisation of effort degrades decision-making.- Posted
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Content ArticleIn this opinion piece for the BMJ, Scarlett McNally looks at the issue of sexual assault and harassment by and against NHS staff. She argues that rather than focusing solely on reporting mechanisms, there needs to be more emphasis on prevention. In order to change the culture in NHS workplaces, all members of the team need to consider how they may contribute to a culture that allows sexual misconduct to happen.
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Content Article
The power of civility in healthcare (3 February 2020)
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in Culture
Dr Chris Turner, of Civility Saves Lives and consultant in emergency medicine, was invited by the NHS Highland Medical Education team to lead a series of lectures and workshops exploring the impact of our behaviour on our colleagues and workplace.- Posted
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Content ArticleIn this study, Westbrooke et al. identified individual and organisational factors associated with the prevalence, type and impact of unprofessional behaviours among hospital employees. The study found that unprofessional behaviour is common among hospital workers. Tolerance for low level poor behaviour may be an enabler for more serious misbehaviour that endangers staff wellbeing and patient safety. Training staff about speaking up is required, together with organisational processes for effectively eliminating unprofessional behaviour.
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Content ArticleThe healthcare workplace is a high-stress environment. All stakeholders, including patients and providers, display evidence of that stress. High stress has several effects. Even acutely, stress can negatively affect cognitive function, worsening diagnostic acumen, decision-making, and problem-solving. It decreases helpfulness. As stress increases, it can progress to burnout and more severe mental health consequences, including depression and suicide. One of the consequences (and causes) of stress is incivility. Both patients and staff can manifest these unkind behaviours, which in turn have been shown to cause medical errors. The human cost of errors is enormous, reflected in thousands of lives impacted every year. The economic cost is also enormous, costing at least several billion dollars annually. The warrant for promoting kindness, therefore, is enormous. Kindness creates positive interpersonal connections, which, in turn, buffers stress and fosters resilience. Kindness, therefore, is not just a nice thing to do: it is critically important in the workplace. Ways to promote kindness, including leadership modelling positive behaviours as well as the deterrence of negative behaviours, are essential. A new approach using kindness media is described. It uplifts patients and staff, decreases irritation and stress, and increases happiness, calmness, and feeling connected to others.
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News ArticlePatient safety is being put at risk by the “toxic” behaviour of doctors in the NHS, the health ombudsman has said. Rob Behrens, who investigates complaints about the NHS in England, warned that the hierarchical and high-handed attitude of clinicians was undermining the quality of care in some hospitals. He called for medical training to be redesigned to encourage a more empathetic and collaborative approach from doctors. Pointing to failings in the treatment of sepsis and the problems in maternity services, Behrens said he was “shocked on a daily basis” by what he saw as ombudsman. Too often, “organisational reputation has been put above patient safety”, he told The Times Health Commission. The ombudsman warned of a “Balkanisation” of health professionals, with rivalries between doctors and nurses or midwives and obstetricians harming patient care. “For all the brilliance of clinicians quite often they’re not very good at working together,” he said. “Time and again, the handover from one clinician to another, from one shift to another, or the inability to raise the issue at a senior level has been a key factor in what has gone wrong.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 18 November 2023
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- Organisational culture
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Content ArticleDisruptive 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.
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Content ArticleA substantial barrier to progress in patient safety is a dysfunctional culture rooted in widespread disrespect. Leape et al. identify a broad range of disrespectful conduct, suggesting six categories for classifying disrespectful behaviour in the health care setting: disruptive behaviour; humiliating, demeaning treatment of nurses, residents, and students; passive-aggressive behaviour; passive disrespect; dismissive treatment of patients; and systemic disrespect. At one end of the spectrum, a single disruptive physician can poison the atmosphere of an entire unit. More common are everyday humiliations of nurses and physicians in training, as well as passive resistance to collaboration and change. Even more common are lesser degrees of disrespectful conduct toward patients that are taken for granted and not recognised by health workers as disrespectful. Disrespect is a threat to patient safety because it inhibits collegiality and cooperation essential to teamwork, cuts off communication, undermines morale, and inhibits compliance with and implementation of new practices. Nurses and students are particularly at risk, but disrespectful treatment is also devastating for patients. Disrespect underlies the tensions and dissatisfactions that diminish joy and fulfilment in work for all health care workers and contributes to turnover of highly qualified staff. Disrespectful behaviour is rooted, in part, in characteristics of the individual, such as insecurity or aggressiveness, but it is also learned, tolerated, and reinforced in the hierarchical hospital culture. A major contributor to disrespectful behaviour is the stressful health care environment, particularly the presence of “production pressure,” such as the requirement to see a high volume of patients.
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Content ArticleDisruptive behaviours have been shown to have a significant negative impact on staff collaboration and clinical outcomes of patient care. Disruptive episodes are more likely to occur in high stress areas such as the Emergency Department (ED). Having the structure, process, and skills in place to effectively address this issue will lower the likelihood of preventable adverse events. This study assessed the status of disruptive behaviours and staff relationships in the ED setting. It concluded that disruptive behaviours in the ED have a significant impact on team dynamics, communication efficiency, information flow, and task accountability, all of which can adversely impact patient care. EDs need to recognise the significance of disruptive behaviours and implement appropriate policies and protocols to address this issue.
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Content ArticleInpatient falls are one of the most common patient safety incidents reported in rehabilitation wards in Australia and can result in serious adverse patient outcomes, including permanent physical disability and occasionally death. Camden Hospital in Australia implemented a multidisciplinary review meeting (Safety Huddle) following all inpatient falls and near miss falls, which developed strategies in consultation with the patient to prevent the incident from reoccurring.
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News Article
MPs to investigate sexual harassment of female surgeons
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
MPs will investigate the sexual harassment and sexual assault of female surgeons taking place within the NHS. BBC News reported women being sexually assaulted even in the operating theatre, while surgery took place. And the first major report into the problem found female trainees being abused by senior male surgeons. The Health and Social Care Committee said it would look into the issue and its chair, Steve Brine, said the revelations were "shocking". "The NHS has a duty to ensure that hospitals are safe spaces for all staff to work in and to hold managers to account to ensure that action is taken against those responsible," Mr Brine said. "We expect to look into this when we consider leadership in the NHS in our future work." Read full story Source: BBC News, 13 September 2023- Posted
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Content ArticleThis research examined sexual misconduct occurring in surgery in the UK, so that more informed and targeted actions can be taken to make healthcare safer for staff and patients. A survey assessed individuals’ experiences with being sexually harassed, sexually assaulted, and raped by work colleagues. Individuals were also asked whether they had seen this happen to others at work. Compared with men, women were much more likely to have seen sexual misconduct happening to others, and to have it happen to them. Individuals were also asked whether they thought healthcare-related organizations were handling issues of sexual misconduct adequately; most did not think they were. The General Medical Council (GMC) received the lowest evaluations. The results of this study have implications for all stakeholders, including patients. Sexual misconduct was commonly experienced by respondents, representing a serious issue for the profession. There is a widespread lack of faith in the UK organizations responsible for dealing with this issue. Those organizations have a duty to protect the workforce, and to protect patients. Further reading: Breaking the silence: Addressing sexual misconduct in healthcare Calling out the sexist and misogynist culture within healthcare: a blog by Dr Chelcie Jewitt, co-founder of the Surviving in Scrubs campaign GMC's Good medical practice 2024
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News Article
Scandal-hit heart surgery unit warned for third time over ‘toxic’ culture
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Junior doctors have been prevented from returning to scandal hit heart surgery unit previously criticised over “toxic” culture, The Independent has learned. A coroner defended cardiac surgery at St George’s University Hospital, criticising an NHS-commissioned review into 67 deaths that warned of poor care. However, The Independent has learned the unit received a critical report from Health Education England (HEE), the body responsible for healthcare training, just last year. The NHS authority was so concerned about culture problems and “inappropriate behaviour” within the unit that it took away the junior doctors working there. This is the third time HEE has intervened since 2018, when the unit was criticised in an independent review for having a “toxic” culture. In a statement, Professor Geeta Menon, postgraduate dean for South London at Health Education England, said: “HEE carried out a review of cardiac surgery at St George’s University Hospital in July 2021 and concluded that further improvements were required to create a suitable learning environment for doctors in training. "Unfounded’ NHS criticism and investigation caused unnecessary deaths at London heart surgery unit “We continue to work closely with the trust to implement our requirements and recommendations and will reassess their progress this summer. HEE is committed to ensuring high quality patient care and the best possible learning environment for postgraduate doctors at St George’s.” The Independent understands that a report issued in December, following the HEE visit, identified problems of “inappropriate behaviour”, poor team working from consultants and raised concerns the culture problems previously identified at the unit persisted. Read full story Source: The Independent, 14 May 2022- Posted
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News ArticleVideos circulating on the social media platform claim that castor oil can help to treat dryness, floaters, cataracts, poor vision and even glaucoma. Doctors have issued a warning not to use castor oil as a way to treat vision problems following claims on TikTok. Castor oil is a type of vegetable oil traditionally used to treat a range of issues like skin infections. It is even a common ingredient in some over-the-counter eye drops. But dozens of TikTok videos have gone one step further, claiming that by rubbing the oil over eyelids, eyelashes and under the eye, it helps to treat dryness, floaters, cataracts, poor vision and even glaucoma. One woman said that after two weeks of use, she doesn't need to wear reading glasses as often, while another said it prevented an eye infection from progressing. Now, doctors in the US have said the oil is "not going to seep in and dissolve or fix anything". They warned that some unsterilised bottles on shop shelves may even cause irritation or infection if put directly into the eye. "Castor oil is not a cure-all. If you have concerns about your eyes, you need to see an optician," Dr Ashley Brissette, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She said they cannot make recommendations as studies that look at the effects of eye drops which contain castor oil on dry eyes and blepharitis are of low quality, involving small sample sizes and no control groups. Dr Vicki Chan, a practising optician in Los Angeles added that castor oil has no effect on conditions that affect the inside of the eyeball. These include cataracts - an age-related condition that causes cloudy vision - floaters, and glaucoma, which occurs when fluid accumulates and damages the optic nerve. Dr Brissette added that ignoring early symptoms of glaucoma, or waiting to see it castor oil improves conditions such as cataract, can lead to permanent vision loss or complications with surgery. Instead, eating a healthy balanced diet; removing all make up before bed; wearing sunglasses outdoors and attending regular eye examinations are alternative ways to maintain eye health.
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News Article
Female doctors launch campaign against harassment in UK healthcare
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Female doctors have launched an online campaign that they say exposes shocking gender-based discrimination, harassment and sexual assault in healthcare. Surviving in Scrubs is an issue for all healthcare workers, say the campaign’s founders, Becky Cox and Chelcie Jewitt, who are encouraging women to share stories of harassment and abuse to “push for change and to reach the people in power”. The campaign has called for the General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates doctors, to explicitly denounce sexist and misogynistic behaviour towards female colleagues and “treat them with respect”. More than 40 stories have been shared on the campaign’s website, ranging from sexual harassment by patients to inappropriate remarks and sexual advances from supervisors. The campaign is bolstered by evidence that shows 91% of female respondents had experienced sexism at work within the past two years. The findings are a result of nearly 2,500 surveyed doctors working in the NHS – the majority of whom were women – published in a 2021 report by the British Medical Association (BMA). Read full story Source: The Guardian, 11 July 2022- Posted
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News Article
Bullying and harassment ‘normalised’ at trust put back in special measures
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
An ambulance trust has been placed in special measures after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated its leadership ‘inadequate’ and said staff felt unable to raise concerns without fear of reprisal The CQC inspected South East Coast Ambulance Service Foundation Trust after being contacted by staff with concerns about bullying and harassment, inappropriate sexualised behaviour and a leadership team which failed to address concerns. Many of the concerns echo those raised in 2017 in an independent review into a “culture of fear” at the trust, shortly after it was first placed in regulatory special measures. It was taken out in 2019 but has now been placed back in the equivalent “recovery support programme” on the CQC’s recommendation. CQC director of integrated care Amanda Williams praised staff who had contacted the regulator. She said: “While staff were doing their very best to provide safe care to patients, leaders often appeared out of touch with what was happening on the front line and weren’t always aware of the challenges staff faced. Staff described feeling unable to raise concerns without fear of reprisal – and when concerns were raised, these were not acted on. “This meant that some negative aspects of the organisational culture, including bullying and harassment and inappropriate sexualised behaviour, were not addressed and became normalised behaviours." Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 22 June 2022- Posted
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