Framework to mitigate disruptive behaviours involving radiographers at central hospitals in Harare Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Background Disruptive behaviours in healthcare have become an unprecedented global problem, transcending borders, work settings and professional groups. Concerns about their impact on patient safety has led many international medical organisations and other healthcare professions to escalate the urgency of knowing the prevalence, causes and consequences of these unprofessional behaviours in different healthcare settings. Evidence shows that assessing and mitigating disruptive behaviours is critical to empowering health workers to focus on delivering high-quality, cost-effective and safe patient care. However, there is a paucity of literature exploring disruptive behaviours involving radiographers in Zimbabwe. Additionally, there is no written policy to monitor and mitigate disruptive behaviours in the Zimbabwean radiography workforce. The challenge of disruptive behaviours is of significant concern for radiographers because they use radiation that has hazardous effects on living organism cells. Aim The aim of the research was to explore disruptive behaviours involving radiographers and the consequences thereof at central hospitals in Harare Metropolitan Province in order to develop a framework to mitigate these behaviours so that healthy radiography work environments are promoted. Methodology A mixed-methods convergent parallel approach using the parallel databases variant was employed. Disruptive behaviours from 100 randomly sampled radiographers were evaluated using a semi-structured questionnaire. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 radiography managers selected by criterion purposive sampling, in order to explore factors and strategies to mitigate these behaviours. Findings Disruptive behaviours involving radiographers in HMP are rampant and create an unhealthy work environment that can lead to compromised patient radiation protection by negatively affecting the implementation of radiation protection protocols or procedures. Cultural and environmental factors relating to disruptive behaviours in Harare Metropolitan Province include a power hierarchy, the work environment and the absence of a reporting framework. Nevertheless, the strategies to mitigate these behaviours may include awareness, willingness to address the behaviours and conflict resolution.