Factors Leading to Disruptive Behaviours Involving Radiographers: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background The negative consequences of disruptive behaviours involving healthcare workers threatens the institution’s image, staff morale, finances, and patient safety. While all kinds of health organisations or settings are potentially exposed to disruptive behaviours, some are at higher risk than others because of both environmental and cultural factors. Such risk should be assessed having regard to the specific situation and conditions in which each healthcare organization operates. International regulatory best-practice standards now require healthcare institutions to develop policies and plans at specific workplaces to combat DBs and establish the required monitoring mechanisms and a range of sanctions. The purpose of this study was to explore the environmental and cultural factors leading to DBs involving radiographers at central hospitals in Harare Metropolitan Province so that tailor-made strategies for addressing these behaviours can be formulated. Methods An exploratory qualitative study employing face to face, one-on-one in-depth interviews was carried out between March and April 2021. Eleven radiography managers at central hospitals in Harare Metropolitan Province (HMP) were selected by criterion purposive sampling. The interview data were analysed using Tesch's method of qualitative analysis. The data was first manually coded and then entered into Nvivo (QSR International Version 11) for further analysis. This study was assessed using the four criteria for developing the trustworthiness of qualitative research as suggested by Lincoln and Guba, namely credibility, dependability, conformability and transferability. Results The key environmental and cultural factors identified included three themes: power hierarchy, work environment and reporting framework. Power hierarchy comprised categories, superiority, professional boundaries and representation. The work environment incorporated categories, trust in leadership, burnout and fatigue and remuneration. Lastly, reporting framework included categories, lack of protocol and reporting culture. Conclusions This study highlights that environmental factors play a bigger role in provoking disruptive behaviours involving radiographers at central hospitals in HMP. This underscores the need for hospital and radiography managers to pay particular emphasis on these when formulating policies and procedures to address these behaviours. Addressing DBs ensures that healthy work environments are promoted which in turn ensures that patients receive optimum and safe care.