Vidanapathirana Manudi, Gomez Deshan, Jayasinghe Saroj
National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
BMC Med Educ. 2025 May 15;25(1):710. doi: 10.1186/s12909-025-07306-4.
Bullying in medicine is common and has harmful effects on the victimized professionals, their patients and the healthcare system. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of workplace bullying among intern doctors in Sri Lanka and examine its associated factors.
This was conducted as a descriptive cross-sectional study among intern doctors who had completed at least 6 months of internship. A self-administered questionnaire which incorporated the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 and associations were analyzed using Chi Square.
The response rate was 78.2% (n = 208). The results revealed that 76.9% of intern doctors experienced workplace bullying. All forms of workplace bullying were commonly reported by participants: work-related bullying was experienced in the form of having one's opinions ignored (56.7%, n = 118),) being ordered to do work below one's level of competence (55.3%, n = 115) and being exposed to unmanageable workload (50%, n = 104); person-related bullying was experienced in the form of being ridiculed in connection with one's work (55.8%) and persistent criticism of errors (52.4%). Almost half (48.1%, n = 100) had been subjected to hints or signals that they should quit their job. Physical intimidation was experienced by 61.1% (n = 127) and 18.3% (n = 38) reported threats of physical abuse or actual abuse. Interns that frequently felt that the assigned work was above their capacity(p < 0.001) and ethnicity (p < 0.01) were found to be significantly associated with bullying.
Bullying is commonly experienced by Sri Lankan intern doctors with many being subjected to physical intimidation. Rigorous steps should be taken to address workplace bullying to facilitate supportive work environments.
医学领域的欺凌行为很常见，会对受欺负的专业人员、他们的患者以及医疗系统产生有害影响。本研究旨在评估斯里兰卡实习医生中工作场所欺凌行为的发生率，并探讨其相关因素。
这是一项针对已完成至少6个月实习的实习医生开展的描述性横断面研究。采用一份自行填写的问卷进行数据收集，该问卷纳入了修订后的负面行为问卷。使用SPSS 26版软件对数据进行分析，并采用卡方检验分析相关性。
回复率为78.2%（n = 208）。结果显示，76.9%的实习医生经历过工作场所欺凌。参与者普遍报告了各种形式的工作场所欺凌行为：与工作相关的欺凌行为表现为意见被忽视（56.7%，n = 118）、被命令从事低于自身能力水平的工作（55.3%，n = 115）以及面临无法承受的工作量（50%，n = 104）；与人相关的欺凌行为表现为工作方面被嘲笑（55.8%）以及对错误的持续批评（52.4%）。几乎一半（48.1%，n = 100）的人收到过暗示或信号，表明他们应该辞职。61.1%（n = 127）的人经历过身体恐吓，18.3%（n = 38）的人报告受到身体虐待威胁或实际遭受身体虐待。发现经常觉得分配的工作超出其能力的实习生（p < 0.001）和种族（p < 0.01）与欺凌行为显著相关。
斯里兰卡实习医生普遍经历过欺凌行为，许多人遭受过身体恐吓。应采取严格措施解决工作场所欺凌问题，以营造支持性的工作环境。
