Anesthesiologist-surgeon conflicts at the workplace: An exploratory single-center study from Egypt

Background: Professional relationships, in particular between anesthesiologists and surgeons, have been identified as a major source of conflict at the work place. Aims: We explored some of the perceived causes of conflict between the surgeons and anesthesiologists in a single center in Egypt. Method: A cross-sectional study of 67 anesthesiologists and 50 surgeons at Mansoura University Hospital, Mansoura, Egypt was conducted between March and June 2011. A self-reported questionnaire explored 4 domains including 24 items covering causes of conflict. Results: There was a highly significant difference between the number of anesthesiologists and surgeons who considered the working relationships between them as disturbed (76.6% vs. 13.3%, p <0.001 respectively). The most powerful significant predictors of conflicts between surgeons and anesthesiologists were: patient pressure on surgeons, lack of regard to anesthesiologists' instructions, patients' unawareness of the role of anesthesiologists, poor information about patients, decision about the urgency of operations, lack of departmental coordination regarding surgical priorities, lack of an out-patient anesthesia clinic and finally shortage of work facilities. Conclusions: We identified some causes that were perceived by participants to trigger conflicts between them. Attention to these issues may help bring about more harmony between surgeons and anesthesiologists at the work place.