Bullying Among Hospital Staff: Use of Psychometric Triage to Identify Intervention Priorities

Survey of workplace bullying in a Norwegian found that 10% of nurses, therapists, and (N=440) had witnessed bullying. Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ) scores were low, Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) scores positive, and Organizational Commitment (OCQ) scores were neutral. NAQ and having witnessed bullying both predicted low MSQ scores, low over-all job satisfaction, and low OCQ scores. By psychometric triage, some of the NAQ’s 22 negative acts can be identified for priority administrative intervention based on a) the degree to which NAQ items predict decreased satisfaction and decreased commitment, b) the prevalence rates of negative acts, and c) efficiency of. Psychometric triage recommended first on the problem of “necessary withheld”, which had an 18% prevalence and predicted lower MSQ and OCQ scores. The priority should be on “pressure to give up”, which had prevalence of 2% but also lower MSQ and OCQ scores. The third and priorities should focus on “tasks below level of competence” (reported by 51%) and on“unmanageable workload” (reported by 28%), neither which predicted MSQ or OCQ scores.