The High Cost of Hospital Bullying: Resignation Intent and Emotional Distress Among Radiologic Technologists

Abstract

Bullying in the healthcare sector remains an under-recognized but pervasive problem that undermines quality care delivery and contributes to poor patient outcomes. This study examined whether hospital bullying is experienced by Radiologic Technologists (RTs) in selected hospitals in Bulacan, Philippines, and characterized its forms, perpetrators, and effects. Using a descriptive, quantitative research design, the researchers administered a 20-item, 4-point Likert scale questionnaire (1 = Never to 4 = All the time) to 44 RTs across seven hospitals, selected through purposive sampling from an initial pool of 57 respondents across eight hospitals. Items 1–7 measured work-related bullying, items 8–12 measured person-related bullying, items 13–15 identified perpetrators, and items 16–20 assessed effects on the RT. Frequency and percentage distributions and weighted means (WM) were computed to interpret responses. Results showed that RTs experience hospital bullying occasionally, with person-related bullying (Grand Weighted Mean [GWM] = 1.80) reported marginally more often than work-related bullying (GWM = 1.76). Seniors or superiors were the most frequently identified perpetrators (WM = 1.40), followed by co-employees (WM = 1.38). The most common effects were reluctance to go to work (WM = 2.38) and thoughts of resignation (WM = 2.34), both linked to heightened stress and anxiety. These findings indicate that hospital bullying, although occasional in frequency, is measurable and consequential among RTs, with implications for staff retention, morale, and the quality of patient care. Hospital administrators and policymakers should treat these results as a call to strengthen enforcement of anti-bullying legislation such as House Bill No. 815, institute regular training and confidential reporting mechanisms, and provide accessible emotional support to affected staff.

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