Spousal Involvement in the Workplace of Doctors: What Is Defined as Appropriate or Inappropriate

Abstract

Background: Workers spend a significant amount of time in the workspace. Involvement of a spouse in a doctor’s workplace can take different forms and come with different intentions. Objectives: The survey aimed to determine the prevalence and extent of spousal involvement in physicians’ workplaces as well as the outcome of such involvement on doctor’ swell-being, productivity, and relationship with colleagues. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey on spousal involvement in the workplace of doctors was conducted among 83 responding doctors from July to August 2023. Results: Among the respondents, 60 (72.3%) had witnessed a doctor’s spouse being involved in the workplace. The most common reason for spousal involvement in the workplace was to protect the spouse from what they perceived as a threat 34 (54.0%). Spouse’s ignorance of boundaries in the workplace (OR: 6.09 (95% CI: 1.70, 21.79) P: 0.003) and exertion of control by the spouse (OR: 11.2 (95% CI: 2.26, 56.41) P: 0.002) were significantly associated with higher odds of inappropriate spousal involvement in the workplace, while expression of love for spouse with acts of kindness was significantly associated with a lowered odd of inappropriate spousal involvement (OR: 0.11 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.36) P: 0.0001). Conclusion: Spousal involvement in the workplace is relatively common. Ignorance of the boundaries of the workplace and exertion of control by the spouse were significant enablers of inappropriate spousal involvement in the workplace of doctors. The establishment of workplace policies that define the limits of spousal involvement in the doctor’s workplace can foster a healthy workspace environment, enhance doctors’ well-being, and improve patient care.