The association between abusive behaviour and physician-patient relations: a systematic review

Haixiao Chen; Zhu Liduzi Jiesisibieke; Ching-Wen Chien; Pei-En Chen; Tao-Hsin Tung

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.008

The association between abusive behaviour and physician-patient relations: a systematic review

Public Health. 2023 Sep 11:224:26-31. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.008. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Haixiao Chen¹, Zhu Liduzi Jiesisibieke², Ching-Wen Chien³, Pei-En Chen⁴, Tao-Hsin Tung⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Zhejiang University, Linhai 317000, PR China. Electronic address: chenhx@enzemed.com.
² School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, PR China. Electronic address: zhuliduzi0822@163.com.
³ Institute for Hospital Management, Tsing Hua University, Shenzhen Campus, PR China. Electronic address: ihhca@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn.
⁴ Institute of Health Policy and Management, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Taiwan Association of Health Industry Management and Development Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: hdes93620@gmail.com.
⁵ Evidence-Based Medicine Center, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, PR China. Electronic address: ch2876@gmail.com.

PMID: 37703693
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.008

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review aims to explore the association between abusive behaviour and physician-patient relations in healthcare settings.

Study design: Systematic review.

Methods: We searched for related studies on databases such as PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library, without restrictions on language, from inception until July 15, 2022. The risk of bias and the methodological quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions tool.

Results: Ten studies were included in this systematic review, the participants of which were physicians and patients. The research from all the studies highlighted the detrimental effects of abusive behaviour on the relationship between physicians and patients, regardless of who the abusers were.

Conclusions: Abusive behaviour in a clinical setting has a negative influence on the physician-patient relationship, whoever the perpetrator might be. The research sheds light on the importance of teaching communication skills to physicians and training them to manage conflicts and aggressive behaviours in healthcare settings.

Keywords: Abusive behaviour; Patient; Physician; Systematic review.

Publication types

Review