ArticleBMJ open2015
The impact of complaints procedures on the welfare, health and clinical practise of 7926 doctors in the UK: a cross-sectional survey.
Article in BMJ open, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 70 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
70 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Understanding healthcare professionals' responses to patient complaints in secondary and tertiary care in the UK: A systematic review and behavioural analysis using the Theoretical Domains Framework.Health research policy and systems · 2024Pooled it
- The effects of different types of organisational workplace mental health interventions on mental health and wellbeing in healthcare workers: a systematic review.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2024Pooled it
- Associations of physician burnout with career engagement and quality of patient care: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2022Pooled it
- How defensive medicine is defined in European medical literature: a systematic review.BMJ open · 2022Pooled it
- Patient and public involvement in medical performance processes: A systematic review.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2019Pooled it
- Association Between Physician Burnout and Patient Safety, Professionalism, and Patient Satisfaction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA internal medicine · 2018Pooled it
- Perceptions of Medical Malpractice Liability and Informed Consent Among Hospital Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Antibiotic stewardship in simple hand trauma: an audit and literature review.Irish journal of medical science · 2026Review
- Less continuity with more complaints: a repeated cross-sectional study of the association between relational continuity of care and patient complaints in English general practice.BMJ quality & safety · 2026Article
- The Iran Healthcare Professionals' Charter of Rights.Archives of Iranian medicine · 2026Article
- Construction and validation of nomogram model for high-risk early warning of medical complaints based on occupational characteristics and workload of medical staff.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Complaints against health professionals regarding patients' suicidal thoughts and behaviours: retrospective study of disciplinary cases in The Netherlands.BJPsych international · 2025Article
- From challenge to growth: Exploring physician narratives of patient complaints during residency.Medical education · 2025Review
- Experiences and support needs of psychiatrists under investigation.BJPsych bulletin · 2025Article
- Burnout, wellbeing and defensive medical practice in obstetricians and gynecologists in the UK before and after the COVID pandemic: A repeated cross-sectional survey study.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2025Article
- Factors influencing the nature of client complaint behaviour in the aftermath of adverse events.The Veterinary record · 2025Article
- Engagement of health and social care employers in professional regulatory fitness to practise - missed regulatory and organisational opportunities?BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Using an e-Delphi consensus technique to develop the Stressful Adverse Veterinary Events Support (SAVES) Framework.PloS one · 2025Article
- Risks to the clinician of risk management: recalled and anticipated consequences of decision-making.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
- Surgical specialists face higher a risk for malpractice compared to their non-surgical colleagues.Scientific reports · 2024Observational
10 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe primary aim was to investigate the impact of complaints on doctors' psychological welfare and health. The secondary aim was to assess whether doctors report exposure to a complaints process is associated with defensive medical practise.
designThis was a cross-sectional anonymous survey study. Participants were stratified into recent/current, past, no complaints. Each group completed tailored versions of the survey.
participants95 636 doctors were invited to participate. A total of 10 930(11.4%) responded, 7926 (8.3%) completed the full survey and were included in the complete analysis.
main outcome measuresAnxiety and depression were assessed using the standardised Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale and Physical Health Questionnaire. Defensive practise was evaluated using a new measure. Single-item questions measured stress-related illnesses, complaints-related experience, attitudes towards complaints and views on improving complaints processes.
results16.9% of doctors with current/recent complaints reported moderate/severe depression (relative risk (RR) 1.77 (95% CI 1.48 to 2.13) compared to doctors with no complaints (9.5%)). Fifteen per cent reported moderate/severe anxiety (RR=2.08 (95% CI 1.61 to 2.68) compared to doctors with no complaints (7.3%)). Distress increased with complaint severity, with highest levels after General Medical Council (GMC) referral (26.3% depression, 22.3% anxiety). Doctors with current/recent complaints were 2.08 (95% CI 1.61 to 2.68) times more likely to report thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation. Most doctors reported defensive practise: 82-89% hedging and 46-50% avoidance. Twenty per cent felt victimised after whistleblowing, 38% felt bullied, 27% spent over 1 month off work. Over 80% felt processes would improve with transparency, managerial competence, capacity to claim lost earnings and action against vexatious complainants.
conclusionsDoctors with recent/current complaints have significant risks of moderate/severe depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Morbidity was greatest in cases involving the GMC. Most doctors reported practising defensively, including avoidance of procedures and high-risk patients. Many felt victimised as whistleblowers or reported bullying. Suggestions to improve complaints processes included transparency and managerial competence.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.