The Silent Scream of Resident Doctors

What is it about?

This study aims to examine the effect of an abusive management style on counterproductive work behaviors (CWB) in resident physicians. The study was conducted with 159 resident physicians working at Sivas Cumhuriyet University Health Practice and Research Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings: The perception of abusive management was found to be higher in physicians with a high workload and who worked for more than 12 hours without interruption. Abusive supervision increases counterproductive behaviors such as abuse, sabotage, withdrawal, and stealing. The problems that resident physicians expect solutions to are: The most frequently mentioned problems are related to workload, number of shifts, working hours, and rotation planning. Managers' oppressive and aggressive attitudes lead to counterproductive behaviors in healthcare professionals. High workloads and long working hours strengthen the perception of abusive management, and this perception negatively affects the motivation and performance of employees. Finding solutions to the problems will increase both employee satisfaction and service quality. This study also revealed that the negative emotions created by the oppressive management approach in health organizations trigger behaviors such as sabotage in particular. More participatory, supportive, and constructive leadership approaches are needed for assistant doctors to be trained as healthy, productive, and motivated individuals. Improving working conditions will positively affect individual performance and the quality of the health service provided.

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Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Physicians, who are the cornerstone of the health system, are exposed to management styles, especially during the residency period, which is one of the most intense and sensitive periods of their professional journey. These styles directly affect their individual health, patient safety, and service quality. In this context, this study, which addresses the impact of an abusive management approach on counterproductive work behaviors, sheds light on a neglected but highly critical problem in the health field. The study reveals how toxic leadership behaviors, which are often overlooked in health institutions, weaken the motivation of employees, feed unethical attitudes in the workplace, and ultimately harm the system as a whole. The fact that resident physicians feel worthless, ignored, or under pressure under long and difficult working conditions causes individual burnout and severe losses in the quality of service provided to patients. This research allows us to understand the invisible burdens experienced by healthcare professionals, especially in pandemic conditions, while also reminding managers of their responsibility to be role models. The findings show that the transition to people-oriented and inclusive management models in healthcare is no longer a choice but a necessity. Beyond its contribution to the literature, the article is a warning that will guide health policies. It emphasizes that physicians should be trained in a working environment supported by technical skills and psychological security; it presents a strong call to the attention of managers, educators, and decision-makers to build a productive, ethical, and healthy health system.

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