Workplace Politics and Its Effect on Postgraduate Obstetrics and Gynecology Training: An Exploratory Study
Workplace Politics' Effect on Postgraduate Obstetrics and Gynecology Training
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v8i9.1285Keywords:
Workplace Politics, Postgraduate Medical Education, Obstetrics and Gynecology Trainees, Professional GrowthAbstract
Power, favoritism, and informal influence are the hallmark features of workplace politics, which can have significant implications on postgraduate medical education. Objectives: To investigate the effects of these dynamics on learning, morale, and professional growth among obstetrics and gynecology fellowship trainees in two tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan. Methods: Qualitative exploratory study using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews and open-ended survey responses. Sixteen female obstetrics and gynecology fellows from two different teaching hospitals of Pakistan responded; the names of these hospitals are being kept anonymous. Data were collected via anonymous online questionnaires with quantitative Likert items and open-ended questions, followed by in-depth semi-structured interviews. Responses underwent inductive coding to identify recurrent themes around politics, mentorship, bullying, and workplace culture. Results: Six themes emerged: (1) favoritism affecting access to surgical cases and evaluations, (2) lack of supervisory accountability, (3) isolation and reduced self-confidence among non-favored trainees, (4) impaired team cohesion, (5) normalization of political behavior, and (6) absence of formal grievance mechanisms. Quantitatively, 75% of trainees reported that workplace politics substantially hindered their learning, including limited clinical exposure, delayed skill acquisition, and reduced participation in teaching sessions. Additionally, 87.5% felt uncomfortable reporting bias or bullying, highlighting a lack of psychological safety in the training environment. Conclusions: Workplace politics in postgraduate obstetrics and gynecology training negatively impact learning outcomes by restricting access to practical training, reducing self-efficacy, and undermining collaborative learning. Implementing transparent case allocation, ethical leadership training, anonymous reporting mechanisms, and structured audits is essential to foster an equitable and supportive educational environment.
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