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Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Disciplinary procedures can have a negative impact on the professional functioning of medical doctors. In this questionnaire study, doctors' experience with open culture and support during a disciplinary procedure is studied to determine whether open culture and support are associated with perceived changes in the professional practice of doctors. METHODS: All doctors who received a warning or a reprimand from the Dutch Medical Disciplinary Board between July 2012 and August 2016 were invited to fill in a 60-item questionnaire concerning open culture, perceived support during the disciplinary procedure and the impact of the procedure on professional functioning as reported by doctors themselves. The response rate was 43% (n=294). RESULTS: A majority of doctors perceive their work environment as a safe environment in which to talk about and report incidents (71.2% agreed). Respondents felt supported by a lawyer or legal representative and colleagues (92.8% and 89.2%, respectively). The disciplinary procedure had effects on professional practice. Legal support and support from a professional confidant and a professional association were associated with fewer perceived changes to professional practice. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that doctors who had been disciplined perceive their working environment as open. Doctors felt supported by lawyers and/or legal representatives and colleagues. Legal support was associated with less of a perceived impact on doctors' professional practice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e036922 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | BMJ Open |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 26 Nov 2020 |
Funding
Whereas Bourne et al40report bullying and undermining during complaint procedures, only a few doctors in our study felt obstructed (‘tegengewerkt’ in the original Dutch questionnaire, which can also mean ‘undermined’), and a number of doctors in our study sought and found support within their work environment. Doctors mostly felt supported by colleagues and supervisors. Still, feeling supported by colleagues was not associated with perceived changes in professional practice and neither was the support from supervisors. The necessity of an open culture and support within the work environment notwithstanding, working in an open and supportive environment does not seem to be sufficient to offset the negative perception doctors have of the impact of disciplinary procedures.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport |
Keywords
- health & safety
- law (see medical law)
- quality in health care
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Dive into the research topics of 'Is the perceived impact of disciplinary procedures on medical doctors' professional practice associated with working in an open culture and feeling supported? A questionnaire among medical doctors in the Netherlands who have been disciplined'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Activities
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Towards Responsive Law
Akkermans, A. J. (Speaker), Laarman, B. (Speaker), van Voorst tot Voorst, E. A. M. (Speaker) & Mein, A. (Speaker)
29 Sept 2023Activity: Lecture / Presentation › Academic
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