Invited article: Managing disruptive physician behavior: impact on staff relationships and patient care.
Unprofessional behavior by physicians has been linked to adverse events. This survey of staff, nurses, and physicians found that disruptive behavior—including using disrespectful language or berating staff—was common among nurses and physicians. Respondents agreed that unprofessional behaviors adversely affected the quality of care. The authors provide a framework for organizations to use in addressing disruptive behavior. Prior research in this area has investigated predictors of unprofessional actions and system-level solutions to the problem. A case of disruptive behavior affecting patient care was discussed in a prior AHRQ WebM&M commentary.