Relative risks for anxiety, depression, hedging and avoidance behaviour in relation to perceived and actual support, colleagues’ behaviour as well as process-related issues
| Item | Relative risks (95% CI) | |||
| Anxiety | Depression | Hedging | Avoidance | |
| Actual support | − | − | − | − |
| Spoke to family/friends | 1.58 (1.11 to 2.26) | 1.46 (1.06 to 2.02) | 1.28 (1.17 to 1.41) | 1.15 (1.05–1.27) |
| Spoke to colleagues | 0.69 (0.51 to 0.94) | 0.64 (0.48 to 0.84) | 1.23 (1.09 to 1.40) | 1.01 (0.90–1.13) |
| Represented yourself | 1.19 (0.96 to 1.47) | 1.29 (1.06 to 1.57) | 0.99 (0.93 to 1.05) | 1.07 (1.01–1.15) |
| Medical professional support | 1.15 (0.93 to 1.42) | 1.31 (1.07 to 1.60) | 1.22 (1.15 to 1.30) | 1.19 (1.12–1.27) |
| Independent solicitor | 1.70 (1.29 to 2.23) | 1.85 (1.45 to 2.36) | 0.98 (0.89 to 1.09) | 1.19 (1.08–1.30) |
| BMA employment advice service | 1.71 (1.35 to 2.17) | 2.06 (1.68 to 2.52) | 0.81 (0.74 to 0.90) | 1.24 (1.14–1.34) |
| BMA counselling | 1.74 (1.33 to 2.29) | 1.91 (1.50 to 2.44) | 0.96 (0.86 to 1.07) | 1.25 (1.14–1.38) |
| Perceived support from | − | − | − | − |
| Management | 0.80 (0.74 to 0.87) | 0.77 (0.71 to 0.83) | 0.98 (0.96 to 1.00) | 0.91 (0.89–0.93) |
| Colleagues | 0.78 (0.73 to 0.84) | 0.77 (0.72 to 0.83) | 0.96 (0.94 to 0.98) | 0.90 (0.89–0.92) |
| Medical professional support | 0.87 (0.79 to 0.96) | 0.84 (0.77 to 0.93) | 0.98 (0.95 to 1.01) | 0.98 (0.95–1.01) |
| Defence organisation | 0.87 (0.79 to 0.95) | 0.84 (0.77 to 0.91) | 1.03 (1.00 to 1.06) | 0.96 (0.93–0.99) |
| Process-related issues* | − | − | − | − |
| Normal process not followed | 1.18 (1.10 to 1.26) | 1.15 (1.08 to 1.23) | 1.01 (0.99 to 1.03) | 1.07 (1.05–1.09) |
| Documentary record was fair and accurate | 0.81 (0.75 to 0.87) | 0.80 (0.75 to 0.86) | 0.98 (0.96 to 1.00) | 0.94 (0.92–0.96) |
| Timescale was needlessly protracted | 1.16 (1.08 to 1.26) | 1.20 (1.12 to 1.29) | 1.05 (1.03 to 1.07) | 1.10 (1.07–1.12) |
| Informed of rights regarding representation | 0.94 (0.87 to 1.02) | 0.96 (0.89 to 1.03) | 0.97 (0.95 to 0.99) | 0.96 (0.94–0.98) |
| Inappropriate or vexatious use of risk process | 1.17 (1.10 to 1.25) | 1.18 (1.11 to 1.26) | 1.02 (1.00 to 1.04) | 1.10 (1.08–1.12) |
| Complaint due to dysfunctional team relationships | 1.19 (1.12 to 1.26) | 1.19 (1.12 to 1.25) | 0.99 (0.97 to 1.01) | 1.08 (1.06–1.10) |
| Felt victimised as a whistleblower | 1.22 (1.15 to 1.30) | 1.23 (1.17 to 1.30) | 0.99 (0.97 to 1.01) | 1.09 (1.07–1.11) |
| Clinical issues raised against me after the initial complaint | 1.20 (1.13 to 1.28) | 1.22 (1.15 to 1.29) | 1.04 (1.01 to 1.06) | 1.11 (1.08–1.13) |
| Felt bullied during the investigation | 1.30 (1.22 to 1.38) | 1.28 (1.22 to 1.35) | 1.03 (1.01 to 1.05) | 1.11 (1.09–1.13) |
| Managers used complaints processes to undermine my position | 1.25 (1.18 to 1.33) | 1.27 (1.20 to 1.34) | 1.01 (0.99 to 1.03) | 1.11 (1.09–1.13) |
| Colleagues used process to take advantage financially or professionally | 1.22 (1.15 to 1.30) | 1.22 (1.16 to 1.29) | 1.02 (1.00 to 1.04) | 1.11 (1.09–1.14) |
| Worrying about the complaint | − | − | − | − |
| Loss of livelihood | 1.40 (1.30 to 1.50) | 1.43 (1.34 to 1.53) | 1.11 (1.09 to 1.13) | 1.14 (1.12–1.16) |
| Public humiliation | 1.43 (1.33 to 1.54) | 1.38 (1.29 to 1.48) | 1.13 (1.12 to 1.15) | 1.15 (1.12–1.17) |
| Professional humiliation | 1.52 (1.38 to 1.66) | 1.53 (1.40 to 1.66) | 1.14 (1.12 to 1.16) | 1.15 (1.13–1.18) |
| Aspects of clinical practice restricted | 1.33 (1.25 to 1.42) | 1.39 (1.31 to 1.47) | 1.10 (1.08 to 1.12) | 1.14 (1.11–1.16) |
| Family problems | 1.44 (1.35 to 1.53) | 1.46 (1.38 to 1.55) | 1.11 (1.09 to 1.13) | 1.14 (1.12–1.16) |
| Marked record in the future | 1.49 (1.36 to 1.64) | 1.53 (1.40 to 1.67) | 1.13 (1.11 to 1.16) | 1.14 (1.11–1.16) |
| Financial costs | 1.38 (1.29 to 1.47) | 1.43 (1.34 to 1.52) | 1.11 (1.09 to 1.13) | 1.15 (1.13–1.17) |
*Items have been paraphrased from the original questionnaire. The full questionnaire can be found in online supplementary file 1