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Martinez W, Pichert JW, Hickson GB, et al. Qualitative Content Analysis of Coworkers' Safety Reports of Unprofessional Behavior by Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals. J Patient Saf. 2021;17(8):e883-e889doi: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000481.
Martinez, W., Pichert, J. W., Hickson, G. B., Braddy, C. H., Brown, A. J., Catron, T. F., Moore, I. N., Stampfle, M. R., Webb, L. E., & Cooper, W. O. (2021). Qualitative Content Analysis of Coworkers' Safety Reports of Unprofessional Behavior by Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals. Journal of patient safety, 17(8), e883-e889. https://doi.org/10.1097/PTS.0000000000000481
Martinez, William, et al. "Qualitative Content Analysis of Coworkers' Safety Reports of Unprofessional Behavior by Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals." Journal of patient safety vol. 17,8 (2021): e883-e889. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/PTS.0000000000000481
Martinez W, Pichert JW, Hickson GB, Braddy CH, Brown AJ, Catron TF, Moore IN, Stampfle MR, Webb LE, Cooper WO. Qualitative Content Analysis of Coworkers' Safety Reports of Unprofessional Behavior by Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals. J Patient Saf. 2021 Dec 01;17(8):e883-e889. doi: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000481. PMID: 29547475.
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J Patient Saf. 2021 Dec 01;17(8):e883-e889. doi: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000481.

Qualitative Content Analysis of Coworkers' Safety Reports of Unprofessional Behavior by Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals.

Journal of patient safety

William Martinez, James W Pichert, Gerald B Hickson, Casey H Braddy, Amy J Brown, Thomas F Catron, Ilene N Moore, Morgan R Stampfle, Lynn E Webb, William O Cooper

Affiliations

  1. From the Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health.
  2. Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy.
  3. Quality, Safety, and Risk Prevention.
  4. Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.

PMID: 29547475 DOI: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000481

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to develop a valid and reliable taxonomy of coworker reports of alleged unprofessional behavior by physicians and advanced practice professionals and determine the prevalence of reports describing particular types of unprofessional conduct.

METHODS: We conducted qualitative content analysis of coworker reports of alleged unprofessional behavior by physicians and advanced practice professionals to create a standardized taxonomy. We conducted a focus group of experts in medical professionalism to assess the taxonomy's face validity. We randomly selected 120 reports (20%) of the 590 total reports submitted through the medical center's safety event reporting system between June 2015 and September 2016 to measure interrater reliability of taxonomy codes and estimate the prevalence of reports describing particular types of conduct.

RESULTS: The initial taxonomy contained 22 codes organized into the following four domains: competent medical care, clear and respectful communication, integrity, and responsibility. All 10 experts agreed that the four domains reflected essential elements of medical professionalism. Interrater reliabilities for all codes and domains had a κ value greater than the 0.60 threshold for good reliability. Most reports (60%, 95% confidence interval = 51%-69%) described disrespectful or offensive communication. Nine codes had a prevalence of less than 1% and were folded into their respective domains resulting in a final taxonomy composed of 13 codes.

CONCLUSIONS: The final taxonomy represents a useful tool with demonstrated validity and reliability, opening the door for reliable analysis and systems to promote accountability and behavior change. Given the safety implications of unprofessional behavior, understanding the typology of coworker observations of unprofessional behavior may inform organization strategies to address this threat to patient safety.

Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors disclose no conflict of interest.

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