Workplace Mistreatment of Swedish Health Care Professionals: Prevalence and Perpetrators across Profession, Sex, and Birth Country

Abstract Background This study explores the prevalence and co-occurrence of workplace mistreatment of nurses and physicians along with their perpetrators. We explore the distribution of incivility and identity-based harassment (ethnicity-, gender-based, and/or sexual harassment), combined with sex and birth country in these two professional groups. Methods This cross-sectional study draws on survey data including an analytical sample of 141,237 Swedish physicians and nurses in 2022. Results Overall, incivility was the most prevalent mistreatment type, ranging from 28.2% among male physicians to 59.5% among nurses born outside Europe. Identity-based harassment ranged from 18.1% among male physicians to 57.8% among nurses born outside Europe. Incivility stemmed most commonly from internal perpetrators (co-workers), and harassment was more commonly experienced by patients or their relatives. Conclusions The mistreatment of healthcare professionals was widespread. Different types of mistreatment often co-occur, but prevalence varies substantially. The protective effect of professional status was dependent on social structures.