Patients have more complications when they have a rude doctor
If a coworker of a surgeon complains about unprofessional behavior in the workplace, patients are more likely to suffer with higher rates of complications, according to a recent study published in JAMA Surgery.
That’s because rude surgeons may help foster a culture that undermines safety and teamwork, increasing the risks for medical errors and surgical complications, the study, conducted by researchers from Vanderbilt University, found. Many of these reports from coworkers come from nurses, who are well-positioned to observe surgeons’ behavior. The findings may help healthcare providers better understand the risks of delivering quality care.
Researchers included 13,653 patients in the cohort study who underwent surgeries by 202 surgeons. Of the study group, 1,583, or 11.6%, experienced a complication, and those that did were far more likely to have a surgeon with more coworker reports. The complication rate among patients of surgeons with one to three reports was 14.3% higher and 11.9% higher for patients with a surgeon with four or more reports compared to surgeons with no reports in the 36 months before an operation.
The study looked at data from two big academic health systems that participate in the American College Surgeons National Surgical Quality Program (NSQIP) with electronic event-reporting systems.
The results don’t indicate causality but do demonstrate a relationship between unprofessional behavior and surgical complications.
“The present study highlights the specific interactions, including disrespect, disregard for hospital policies, and lack of availability to answer questions, that might reasonably be expected to have a negative effect on team performance and increase the risk for complications,” lead author William Cooper, MD, MPH, of the Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, et al. wrote.
The researchers also suggested that future research assess whether better interactions between surgeons and their patients, families and coworkers are associated with better patient outcomes following surgery.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."