An analysis of bullying within the health care system and its impact on health service delivery
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Date
2010
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Abstract
This research project was undertaken to investigate workplace
bullying and its effect on health service delivery. Research
participants were drawn from Prince Mshiyeni Memorial and
Mosvold Hospitals; the aim was to compare the experiences of
public health employees in rural and urban areas of KwaZulu-
Natal.
The employees have a right to be treated with respect and
dignity and, most importantly, to work in a harmonious and
supportive environment. Bullying behaviour breaches the
employer’s duty under common law to provide a safe and a secure
work environment both physically and psychologically. What makes
it difficult for managers to manage bullying is that it has no
tangible results but it leaves the victim with psychological and
emotional problems which lead to anxiety, stress and depression
if not properly attended to. The results of this research
project further reveal that the majority of bullied employees
are reluctant to speak out or end up not reporting the
incidences because when they do report problems they believe
that they will not be taken seriously.
The results also prove that bullying is not a once-off event but
a continuous cycle aimed at humiliating and belittling the
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victim and that it is present in both health institutions.
Though many factors were indicated as contributing to bullying,
the low–self-esteem and personality factors of the bully were
mentioned as the main factors, followed by inadequate training
for the managers. If managers are serious about combating
bullying in their workplaces they need to be in touch with what
their employees go through when they execute their daily duties
and they need to devise some means of ensuring that the
grievance procedure is adequate and that it caters for bullying
problems.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2010.
Keywords
Bullying, Health care system, Service delivery -- Health care--South Africa