The Effect of Experienced Workplace Incivility on Workplace Spirituality: A Research on Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to determine whether the uncivil behavior experienced by healthcare professionals from colleagues, managers and patients/patients' relatives affects workplace spirituality, which consists of the sub-dimensions of meaningful work, community awareness and compliance with work values. Design/methodology/approach - The research was carried out with the quantitative research method. In this context, the survey method was adopted in the research. The research was conducted with the participation of actively working healthcare professionals in Research and Application Hospitals in Yozgat and Kırıkkale provinces, and data was obtained from a total of 367 healthcare professionals. Data; Demographic variables were collected using a questionnaire consisting of workplace incivility and workplace spirituality scales. Normality test, reliability test, descriptive statistical tests and simple regression analysis were applied to the data obtained. Findings – As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the incivility experienced by healthcare professionals from colleagues, managers and patients/patients' relatives had a negative and weak effect on meaningful work, community awareness and harmony with work values, which are the sub-dimensions of workplace spirituality. Discussion – Employees in healthcare institutions are in contact and communication with their colleagues, managers and patients/patients' relatives as a requirement of the work they do. In this process, it is inevitable that various disagreements will arise due to time pressure, excessive workload, and unclearly defined tasks. As a result of this, healthcare professionals may be exposed to uncivil behavior from managers, colleagues or patients/patients' relatives. It is thought that this research will contribute to the improvement of the working environment in healthcare institutions by determining the effect of incivility experienced by healthcare professionals from various groups on workplace spirituality.