What are people's attitudes toward medical insurance fraud whistleblowers? a study from China.

PURPOSE: Medical insurance fraud has caused huge losses to countries around the world, and public reporting has become an important means to combat medical insurance fraud. The attitude of medical insurance fraud whistleblowers affects people's reporting behavior, and understanding people's attitude toward medical insurance fraud whistleblowers provides a basis for further improving the system and policy of public participation in medical insurance fund supervision. METHODS: We adopted the questionnaire method to conduct a national cross-sectional survey of the Chinese public and analyzed the data using Chi-square tests, Fisher's exact tests, and binary logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 837 respondents were included, and 81.8% of the population had a supportive attitude toward medical insurance fraud whistleblowers, with gender, whether they had used medical insurance reimbursement, and present life satisfaction being statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The public is generally supportive of medical insurance fraud whistleblowers, and women, those who have used medical insurance for reimbursement, and those who are satisfied with their lives are more likely to be supportive of medical insurance fraud whistleblowers.

How can the collaborative participation of regulators, whistleblowers, and parties effectively promote rumor management in public health emergencies?

To effectively address the mental health risks associated with public health emergencies, it is crucial to actively manage rumors. This study explores the dynamic evolutionary process of rumor diffusion and its collaborative governance in public health emergencies. A game-theoretic model is constructed, involving three main actors: regulators, parties involved in public health emergencies (PIPHE), and whistle-blowers. The behaviors and game outcomes of each party are analyzed, and the effectiveness and feasibility of the model are validated through numerical simulations. The findings of this study reveal that various factors, such as regulatory costs, penalty income, reputation damage for regulators; image loss, reputation enhancement, penalty expenditure for PIPHE; and time costs, social responsibility, and reward income for whistle-blowers, all influence the behavioral choices and game equilibrium of each party. Optimization strategies for rumor governance are proposed in this study, including enhancing the sense of responsibility and capability among regulators, increasing transparency and credibility among PIPHE, and encouraging and protecting the participation of whistle-blowers. This study provides a comprehensive analytical framework for rumor governance in public health emergencies, contributing to improving the governance of public health emergencies and maintaining online public health orders for social sustainability.

A subtração da vida como política de morte: vozes de mães de jovens negros assassinados / The subtraction of life as a policy of death: voices of mothers of murdered young black people / La sustracción de vida como política de muerte: voces de madres de jóvenes negros asesinados

Objetivamos reconstruir, por meio das vozes de mães de jovens negros mortos em ações policiais, a subtração da vida de seus filhos em contínuas políticas que precarizavam suas existências ao negar-lhes direitos básicos e cidadania. Participaram desta pesquisa seis mães. As conversas com elas, após cuidadosa aproximação, se iniciaram com a pergunta disparadora: "Como você gostaria de contar a história do seu filho?". Para subsidiar nossas análises, tomamos como centrais a articulação teórica e política das noções de genocídio negro e de necropolítica. Este artigo evidencia que, entre o nascimento e a interrupção da vida por balas que atravessam o corpo como um alvo predestinado, o racismo constrói trilhos de precarização da vida que a torna cada vez mais abjeta, vulnerável e descartável, conduzindo à morte precoce, ainda que preveníveis, de jovens negros, principalmente, residentes em periferias e favelas. Nesta discussão, fomentamos uma visão menos compartimentalizada das múltiplas políticas genocidas, trazendo para o diálogo outras políticas públicas, para além da segurança pública. Abordamos um continuum de produção e legitimação de mortes de jovens negros, centrando nossas análises nas formas de apagamento social e institucional desses jovens, que ocorreram anteriormente à morte física, de modo a desqualificar suas vidas. Esses processos contribuem para que a política de segurança pública extermine vidas de jovens negros sem causar ampla comoção social, a devida investigação criminal e, portanto, a responsabilização do Estado, pois já eram vidas mutiladas e desumanizadas em suas existências.(AU)

We aim to reconstruct, with the voices of mothers of young black people killed in police actions, the subtraction of their children's lives in continuous policies that undermined their existence by denying them basic rights and citizenship. Six mothers participated in this research. The conversations with them, after a careful approach, began with the triggering question: "How would you like to tell your child's story?". To support our analyses, we take as central the theoretical and political articulation of the notions of black genocide and necropolitics. This article shows that, between the birth and the interruption of life by bullets that pass through the body as a predestined target, racism builds trails of precariousness of life that makes it increasingly more abject, vulnerable, and disposable, leading to premature death, even if preventable, of young black people, mainly, living in suburbs and slums. In this discussion, we foster a less compartmentalized view of multiple genocidal policies, bringing to the dialogue other public policies, in addition to public safety. We approach a continuum of production and legitimization of deaths of young black people, centering our analysis on the forms of social and institutional erasure of these young people, which occurred before physical death, to disqualify their lives. These processes contribute to the public security policy to exterminate the lives of young black people without causing widespread social upheaval, due criminal investigation, and, thus, the accountability of the State, since they were already mutilated and dehumanized lives in their existence.(AU)

El objetivo de este artículo es reconstruir, a través de las voces de las madres de jóvenes negros asesinados en acciones policiales, la sustracción de la vida de sus hijos en políticas continuas que socavaron su existencia al negarles derechos básicos y ciudadanía. Seis madres participaron en esta investigación. Las conversaciones con estas madres, después de un enfoque cuidadoso, comenzaron con la pregunta desencadenante: "¿Cómo le gustaría contar la historia de su hijo?". Para apoyar el análisis, se tomó como eje central la articulación teórica y política de las nociones de genocidio negro y necropolítica. Este artículo muestra que, entre el nacimiento y la interrupción de la vida por balas que atraviesan el cuerpo como fin predestinado, el racismo construye senderos de precariedad de la vida que la hace cada vez más abyecta, vulnerable y desechable, conduciendo a una muerte prematura, incluso prevenible, de jóvenes negros, principalmente, residentes en la periferia y favelas. Esta discusión fomenta una visión menos compartimentada de múltiples políticas genocidas, llevando al diálogo otras políticas públicas, además de la seguridad pública. Se acerca a un continuo de producción y legitimación de muertes de jóvenes negros, centrando el análisis en las formas de borrado social e institucional de estos jóvenes, ocurridas antes de la muerte física, para descalificar sus vidas. Tales procesos contribuyen a la política de seguridad pública para exterminar la vida de los jóvenes negros sin provocar un gran revuelo social, la debida investigación criminal y, en consecuencia, la rendición de cuentas del Estado, pues ya eran vidas cuya existencia era mutilada y deshumanizada.(AU)

Percepções de psicólogos organizacionais sobre inclusão de pessoas com deficiência em empresas / Organizational psychologists' perceptions on the inclusion of people with disabilities in organizations / Percepciones de los psicólogos organizacionales sobre la inclusión de personas con discapacidad en las empresas

As dificuldades e barreiras enfrentadas no processo de inclusão de pessoas com deficiência (PcD) nas organizações incitam o desenvolvimento de pesquisas. Este estudo compreendeu a percepção de psicólogos organizacionais sobre a inclusão de PcD em empresas. Dezoito psicólogos atuantes na área de gestão de pessoas de empresas das sete regiões do estado do Rio Grande do Sul responderam a uma entrevista individual. A média de idade dos participantes foi de 33,17 anos, atuavam em empresas de diferentes segmentos, eram predominantemente do sexo feminino e possuíam pós-graduação em áreas relacionadas. Os relatos dos psicólogos alertaram para o fato de que, em suas graduações, o conteúdo sobre deficiência humana e, especificamente, inclusão no mercado de trabalho foi escasso ou inexistente. Essa lacuna na formação, de egressos de diferentes instituições de ensino superior, é relatada desde os anos de 1990. Para esses psicólogos, barreiras atitudinais e organizacionais são frequentemente enfrentadas no processo de inclusão, tais como o despreparo das empresas, gestores e colaboradores para receber as PcD, os poucos programas voltados a uma prática efetiva de inclusão e não somente ao cumprimento da legislação, além das dificuldades dos próprios profissionais em identificar os potenciais e as limitações que a PcD apresenta e de adaptá-la de maneira correta ao trabalho. O psicólogo organizacional pode contribuir para um processo adequado de inclusão por meio de práticas, tais como treinamentos e sensibilizações, que fomentem a informação e diminuam a discriminação e as dificuldades.(AU)

Difficulties and barriers to including people with disabilities (PwDs) in organizations drives research development. This study sought to understand how organizational psychologists perceived the inclusion of PwDs in organizations. Eighteen organizational psychologists who work in people management for companies in the seven regions of the state of Rio Grande do Sul participated in an individual interview. Most interviewees were female, with average age of 33.17 years, had a postgraduate degree in the field, and worked in companies from different segments. During the interviews, the psychologists called attention to the little or nonexistent content on human disability and, specifically, inclusion in the labor market covered in the graduate course. This gap has been reported by graduates from different higher education institutions since the 1990s. According to the respondents, attitudinal and organizational barriers are often faced in the inclusion process, such as the unpreparedness of companies, managers, and employees to welcome PwD, the few programs aimed at an effective inclusion and not only to comply with the law, as well as the difficulties of the professionals themselves to identify the potentials and limitations that PwD present and to adapt them correctly to the work. Organizational psychologists can contribute to an adequate inclusion process by developing training and sensibilization activities that foster information and reduce discrimination and difficulties.(AU)

Las dificultades y barreras enfrentadas en el proceso de inclusión de personas con discapacidad (PcD) en las organizaciones fortalecen el desarrollo de la investigación. Este estudio entendió la percepción de los psicólogos organizacionales acerca de la inclusión de las PcD en las empresas. Dieciocho psicólogos que trabajan en el área de gestión de personas en empresas de las siete regiones del estado de Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil) respondieron a una entrevista individual. Los participantes tenían una edad promedio de 33,17 años, trabajaban en empresas de diferentes segmentos, eran predominantemente mujeres y tenían un posgrado en el área. Los informes de los psicólogos alertaron sobre el hecho de que el contenido sobre discapacidad humana y, específicamente, su inclusión en el mercado laboral era escaso o inexistente durante su formación académica. Esta brecha en la formación de los egresados de diferentes instituciones de educación superior se reporta desde los 1990. Para estos psicólogos, a menudo ocurren barreras organizacionales y de actitud en el proceso de inclusión de las PcD, como la falta de preparación de las empresas, gerentes y empleados para recibirlas, pocos programas destinados a una práctica efectiva de la inclusión, no solo al cumplimiento de la ley, y las dificultades de los profesionales para identificar las potencialidades y limitaciones y adecuarlas correctamente al trabajo. El psicólogo organizacional puede contribuir a un proceso de inclusión adecuado, con prácticas de capacitación y sensibilización que brindan información y reducen la discriminación y dificultades.(AU)

Documentos psicológicos: um estudo comparativo das resoluções CFP n. º 006/2019 e CFP n. º 007/2003 / Psychological documents: a comparative study of resolutions CFP n. º 06/2019 and CFP n. º 07/2003 / Documentos psicológicos: un estudio comparativo entre las resoluciones CFP n. º 006/2019 y CFP n. º 007/2003

As resoluções emitidas pelo Sistema Conselhos são instrumentos essenciais de orientação e promoção de práticas éticas que denotem qualidade técnica no exercício profissional da Psicologia. Dada a complexidade que envolve a elaboração de documentos psicológicos, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo identificar as principais mudanças observadas no texto da recém-publicada Resolução CFP n.º 006/2019 quando comparada à Resolução CFP n.º 007/2003, ambas referidas à elaboração de documentos psicológicos. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva-comparativa de abordagem qualitativa, que utilizou da análise de conteúdo no tratamento e interpretação dos dados oriundos de fonte exclusivamente documental. Os resultados indicaram poucas diferenças qualitativas entre os marcos resolutivos, embora se vislumbre altamente relevante o ganho adquirido com a proibição de escritos descritivos, a exigência de referencial teórico para fundamentar o raciocínio profissional e a obrigatoriedade da devolutiva documental. Entre os achados que ganham notoriedade consta a preocupação com os princípios que regem a elaboração de documentos, cuja apresentação tautológica responde a um cenário político de retrocessos que tem favorecido o desrespeito aos direitos humanos e às minorias.(AU)

Resolutions issued by Sistema Conselhos are essential tools to guide and promote ethical and quality psychology practices. Given the complexity involved in elaborating such documents, this descriptive, qualitative research outlines the main changes in the text of the recently published CFP Resolution no. 006/2019 when compared with CFP Resolution no. 007/2003, both addressing the elaboration of psychological documents. Documentary data was investigated by content analysis. Results indicated few qualitative differences between the analyzed Resolutions, among them the prohibition of descriptive writing, the requirement for a theoretical framework to support professional reasoning, and the obligation to return documents. Concern with the principles that guide document elaboration stands out, responding to a political scenario of major setbacks regarding respect for human rights and minorities.(AU)

Las resoluciones que expide el Sistema Conselhos consisten en instrumentos fundamentales que guían y promueven prácticas éticas respecto a la calidad técnica en el ejercicio profesional de la Psicología. Dada la complejidad que implica la elaboración de documentos psicológicos, esta investigación tuvo como objetivo identificar los principales cambios observados en la Resolución CFP n.º 006/2019, de reciente publicación, en comparación con la Resolución CFP n.º 007/2003, ambas abordan la elaboración de documentos psicológicos. Se trata de una investigación descriptiva-comparativa con enfoque cualitativo, que utilizó el análisis de contenido en el tratamiento e interpretación de datos de fuente exclusivamente documental. Los resultados indicaron pocas diferencias cualitativas entre los marcos resolutivos (aunque el logro de prohibir los escritos descriptivos es muy relevante), la exigencia de un marco teórico para sostener el razonamiento profesional y la devolución obligatoria de los documentos. Entre los hallazgos que cobran notoriedad está la preocupación por los principios que rigen la elaboración de documentos, cuya presentación tautológica responde a un escenario político de retrocesos que ha favorecido la falta de respeto a los derechos humanos y las minorías.(AU)

(In)tolerância como política: os discursos de direita e de esquerda no facebook / (In)tolerance as policy: the rightist and leftist discourses on facebook / (In)tolerancia como política: los discursos de la derecha y la izquierda en facebook

Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar traços da mentalidade potencialmente autoritária a partir do discurso de usuários do Facebook vinculados a páginas de cunho político autodeclarado de direita e de esquerda no Brasil. A Netnografia é utilizada como aporte metodológico para imersão on-line nas páginas "Eu era Direita e não sabia" e "Jovens de Esquerda", selecionadas por meio do Facebook Audience Insights, ferramenta disponibilizada pelo Facebook. Delas, foram extraídas oito postagens com maior engajamento (número de comentários, curtidas e compartilhamentos), identificadas pelo Netvizz. Foram coletados 3.489 comentários, os quais foram organizados em um corpus textual submetido ao software IRAMUTEQ e analisados sob a perspectiva da análise crítica imanente da teoria crítica. Como resultado, apresenta-se a forma como o pensamento autoritário se manifesta na racionalização da sociedade contemporânea e nas práticas discursivas em redes sociais on-line, enraizada no âmbito sociopolítico brasileiro, ameaçando o processo democrático e a construção de uma sociedade plural e liberta.(AU)

This study aims to analyze traits of the potentially authoritarian mentality from the speech of Facebook users linked to political pages self-declared as rightist and leftist in Brazil. Netnography is used as a methodological contribution for online immersion in the pages "Eu era Direita e não sabia" and "Jovens de Esquerda" selected via Facebook Audience Insights, a tool provided by Facebook. From these, eight posts with greater engagement (number of comments, likes and shares), identified by Netvizz, were extracted. We collected 3,489 comments, which were organized in a textual corpus submitted to IRAMUTEQ software and analyzed from the perspective of immanent critical analysis of Critical Theory. As a result, we present the way in which authoritarian thinking manifests itself in the rationalization of contemporary society and in discursive practices in online social networks, rooted in the Brazilian socio-political sphere, threatening the democratic process and the construction of a plural and free society.(AU)

Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar las huellas de la mentalidad potencialmente autoritaria a partir de los discursos de usuarios en Facebook vinculados a páginas políticas autodeclaradas de derecha y de izquierda en Brasil. La netnografía se utiliza como marco metodológico para la inmersión en línea en las páginas "Eu era Direita e não sabia" y "Jovens de Esquerda", seleccionadas por Facebook Audience Insights, herramienta proporcionada por Facebook. Se extrajeron las ocho publicaciones con mayor compromiso (número de comentarios, gustos y compartidas), identificadas por Netvizz. Se recogieron 3.489 comentarios, los cuales fueron organizados en un corpus textual sometido al software IRAMUTEQ y analizado bajo la perspectiva del análisis crítico inmanente de la teoría crítica. Los resultados presentan la forma en que el pensamiento autoritario se manifiesta en la racionalización de la sociedad contemporánea y en prácticas discursivas en redes sociales en línea, arraigada en el ámbito sociopolítico brasileño, que amenazan el proceso democrático y la construcción de una sociedad plural y liberada.(AU)

Poder, norma e ideário na lei da alienação parental / Power, norm and ideology in the law of parental alienation / Poder, norma e ideología en la ley de alienación parental

A recomendação ética do psicólogo para intervir criticamente sobre a demanda vai de encontro com a tarefa de diagnosticar atos de Alienação Parental e, num sentido amplo, com a judicialização das relações privadas. A genealogia de Foucault consiste num método capaz de lançar luz sobre as práticas de poder na base dos discursos relacionados ao tema da alienação parental. O eufemismo pedagógico empregado para designar as sanções da lei tem como finalidade estratégica o convencimento a respeito de supostos benefícios da tutela sobre as famílias, ao mesmo tempo em que lhes são atribuídas alguma patologia disfuncional. Numa perspectiva crítica, a assimetria de gêneros corresponde às relações de poder presentes no problema da alienação parental. Por fim, a inversão dos critérios de identificação da alienação parental revela o distanciamento entre o ideal normativo e a realidade da ruptura conjugal e familiar, apontando para a importância de práticas de cuidado e assistência em vez de judicativas e punitivas.(AU)

The psychologist's ethical recommendation to critically intervene on the demand goes against the task of diagnosing acts of Parental Alienation (AP) and, in a broad sense, with the judicialization of private relations. Foucault's genealogy consists of a method able to shed on the power practices on the basis of discourses related to the theme of Parental Alienation. The pedagogical euphemism used to designate the sanctions of the law has the strategic purpose of convincing about the supposed benefits of guardianship over families, while attributing some dysfunctional pathology to them. From a critical perspective, gender asymmetry corresponds to the power relations present in the Parental Alienation problem. Finally, the inversion of the Parental Alienation's identification criteria reveals the gap between the normative ideal and the reality of marital and family disruption, pointing to the importance of care and assistance practices instead of judicative and punitive ones.(AU)

La recomendación ética del psicólogo de intervenir críticamente sobre la demanda va en contra de la tarea de diagnosticar actos de Alienación Parental (AP) y, en un sentido amplio, con la judicialización de las relaciones privadas. La genealogía de Foucault consiste en un método capaz de arrojar luz sobre las prácticas del poder a partir de discursos relacionados con el tema de la Alienación Parental. El eufemismo pedagógico que se utiliza para designar las sanciones de la ley tiene el propósito estratégico de convencer sobre los supuestos beneficios de la tutela sobre las familias, atribuyéndoles alguna patología disfuncional. Desde una perspectiva crítica, la asimetría de género corresponde a las relaciones de poder presentes en el problema de la Alienación Parental. Finalmente, la inversión de los criterios de identificación de la Alienación Parental revela la brecha entre el ideal normativo y la realidad de la ruptura conyugal y familiar, señalando la importancia de las prácticas de cuidado y asistencia en lugar de las judicativas y punitivas.(AU)

New Insurance Product Needed for Physicians: Coverage for Sham Peer Review and Hospital Immunity.

This commentary article highlights the need for an insurance product for hospital-employed physicians that provides coverage against sham peer review and a complete defense against wrongful hospital allegations of incompetent, whistleblowing, or disruptive behavior.

Organizações Sociais de Saúde na mídia: uma análise de notícias em grandes veículos de imprensa (2008-2016) / The Social Health Organizations in the media: analysis of news in large press outlets (2008-2016) / Las Organizaciones Sociales de Salud en los medios: un análisis de las noticias en los principales medios de comunicación (2008-2016)

Este estudo analisou matérias jornalísticas sobre Organizações Sociais de Saúde (OSS) contratadas para gerir hospitais estaduais no Brasil. Foram levantadas publicações nos meios de comunicação G1, Estadão e Valor Econômico sobre as dez maiores OSS do país. Analisou-se o conteúdo de 124 matérias, sendo a maioria da organização Associação Paulista para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina (SPDM), entre os temas: denúncia de irregularidades, desvio de verbas, metas subestimadas, falta de licitações e precarização do trabalho. Houve também conteúdos sobre flexibilidade, dinamismo gerencial, agilidade nas contratações e economia aos cofres públicos. Os achados apontaram para elementos que visam tanto ao fortalecimento do modelo de gestão reforçado pela Nova Gestão Pública (NGP) quanto à mobilização da sociedade frente a essas instituições privadas.

This study analyzed news stories about Social Health Organizations contracted to manage state hospitals in Brazil. We selected publications from G1, Estadão and Valor Econômico media about the ten largest Brazil-ian Social Health Organizations. We analyzed the content of a total of 124 articles, most of them from the Associação Paulista para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina (SPDM) organization, denouncing irregularities, misuse of funds, underestimated goals, lack of tenders and precarious work. There were articles also about flexibility, managerial dynamism, agility in hiring and savings to public coffers. The findings pointed to an outline aimed both at strengthening the management model reinforced by the New Public Management, and at mobilizing society towards these private institutions.

Este estudio analizó artículos sobre Organizaciones Sociales de Salud (OSS) contratadas para administrar hospitales estatales en Brasil. Se levantaron publicaciones en los medios G1, Estadão y Valor Econômico sobre las diez mayores OSS del país. Se analizó el contenido de 124 artículos, la mayoría de la organización Associação Paulista para o Desenvolvimento da Medicina (SPDM), de denuncia de irregularidades, malversación de fondos, subestimación de metas, falta de licitaciones y precariedad laboral. También tuvo contenidos sobre flexibilidad, dinamismo gerencial, agilidad en la contratación y ahorro para las arcas públicas. Los hallazgos apuntaron elementos dirigidos tanto al fortalecimiento del modelo de gestión reforzado por la Nueva Gestión Pública, como a la movilización de la sociedad hacia estas instituciones privadas.

Whistleblowing as an anti-corruption strategy in health and pharmaceutical organizations in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Whistleblowing can bring suspected wrongdoing to the attention of someone who is in the position to rectify the problem. Whistleblowing research can help improve effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts in the health sector. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence on whistleblowing as an anti-corruption strategy in health and pharmaceutical organisations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS: This scoping review searched the PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases from 2005 to 2020, limited to English language. We also searched websites of multilateral agencies or international non-governmental organisations for policy documents, guidance and reports. Titles and abstracts were screened to remove those where the focus was not on health, pharmaceuticals, whistleblowing, or LMIC context. Articles focused on research misconduct were excluded. Full-text articles were assessed for eligibility on these same criteria. Included sources were analysed thematically, based on five categories including definitions and models; evidence of reporting frequency; factors influencing whistleblowing; cultural context; and outcomes. RESULTS: The review found 22 sources including reports, policies, and guidance documents (12, 55%), news articles (4, 18%), policy analyses/reviews (3, 14%), commentaries (2, 9%), and empirical studies (1, 5%). Most sources described whistleblowing policy and system components such as how whistleblowing is defined, who can report, and how confidentiality is assured. Few articles documented types and frequencies of corruption identified through whistleblowing or factors associated with whistleblowing. Several studies mentioned cultural norms as a potential limitation to whistleblowing effectiveness. About one-third of the sources described fear of retaliation and noted the need to strengthen protection for whistleblowers. CONCLUSION: Research on whistleblowing is scarce in health and pharmaceutical organisations in LMICs. Documentation of policies, factors associated with whistleblowing, and whistleblowing outcomes is needed and could help countries to mainstream whistleblowing as a sectoral anti-corruption strategy.

Whistleblowing without names is hearsay.

Peter Gøtzsche's proposal to provide anonymity to certain people reporting bad practices within the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory apparatus or health systems is superficially appealing but likely to generate more problems in the longer run than it might solve in the short term. We need to analyse what features of our systems generate problems and correct those, rather than rely on insiders to report on the resulting problems, as all these reports do is offer a false sense of security that things are safer now that one problem has been identified.

Understanding the factors influencing doctors' intentions to report patient safety concerns: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate doctors' intentions to raise a patient safety concern by applying the socio-psychological model 'Theory of Planned Behaviour'. DESIGN: Qualitative semi-structured focus groups and interviews. SETTING: Training venues across England (North West, South East and South West). PARTICIPANTS: Sampling was purposeful to include doctors from differing backgrounds and grades. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceptions of raising a patient safety concern. RESULTS: While raising a concern was considered an appropriate professional behaviour, there were multiple barriers to raising a concern, which could be explained by the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Negative attitudes operated due to a fear of the consequences, such as becoming professionally isolated. Disapproval for raising a concern was encountered at an interpersonal and organisational level. Organisational constraints of workload and culture significantly undermined the raising of a concern. Responses about concerns were often side-lined or not taken seriously, leading to demotivation to report. This was reinforced by high-profile cases in the media and the negative treatment of whistle-blowers. While regulator guidance acted as an enabler to justify raising a concern, doctors felt disempowered to raise a concern about people in positions of greater power, and ceased to report concerns due to a perceived lack of action about concerns raised previously. CONCLUSIONS: Intentions to raise a concern were complex and highly contextual. The Theory of Planned Behaviour is a useful model to aid understanding of the factors which influence the decision to raise a concern. Results point to implications for policymakers, including the need to publicise positive stories of whistle-blowers and providing greater support to doctors.

Exploring the utility of internal whistleblowing in healthcare via agent-based models.

OBJECTIVE: The benefits of internal whistleblowing or speaking-up in the healthcare sector are significant. The a priori assumption that employee whistleblowing is always beneficial is, however, rarely examined. While recent research has begun to consider how the complex nature of healthcare institutions impact speaking-up rates, few have investigated the institutional processes and factors that facilitate or retard the benefits of speaking up. Here we consider how the efficacy of formal inquiries within organisations in response to employees' speaking up about their concerns affects the utility of internal whistleblowing. DESIGN: Using computational models, we consider how best to improve patient care through internal whistleblowing when resource and practical limitations constrain healthcare operation. We analyse the ramifications of varying organisational responses to employee concerns, given organisational and practical limitations. SETTING: Drawing on evidence from international research, we test the utility of whistleblowing policies in a variety of organisational settings. This includes institutions where whistleblowing inquiries are handled with varying rates of efficiency and accuracy. RESULTS: We find organisational inefficiencies can negatively impact the benefits of speaking up about bad patient care. We find that, given resource limitations and review inefficiencies, it can actually improve patient care if whistleblowing rates are limited. However, we demonstrate that including softer mechanisms for internal adjustment of healthcare practice (eg, peer to peer conversation) alongside whistleblowing policy can overcome these organisational limitations. CONCLUSION: Healthcare organisations internationally have a variable record of responding to employees who speak up about their workplace concerns. Where organisations get this wrong, the consequences can be serious for patient care and staff well-being. The results of this study, therefore, have implications for researchers, policy makers and healthcare organisations internationally. We conclude with a call for further research on a more holistic understanding of the interplay between organisational structure and the benefits of whistleblowing to patient care.

Correctable Myths About Research Misconduct in the Biomedical Sciences.

A recent National Academy report on research integrity noted that policies are not evidence-based, with no formal entity responsible to attend to this deficit. Here we describe four areas of research misconduct (RM) regulations governing Public Health Service funded research that are empirically and/or ethically questionable. Policies for human subject protection, RM and conflict of interest are not harmonized, making it extremely difficult to deal with complex cases which often contain allegations in all of these areas. Second, detection of RM has depended entirely on whistleblowers in spite of evidence of significant under-reporting. Third, the scientific record is far from cleansed of the effects of falsified/fabricated work through current mechanisms of retraction. Finally, lack of fairness in the regulations may reflect lack of a Belmont Report-like document to guide ethics of RM policy. These issues are likely common in other countries. RM regulations should be harmonized with related regulations and their effectiveness tracked, open access to data for independent replication and improved statistical tests are an essential supplement to whistleblowers, correction of the scientific record will require a major effort, and further ethical analysis and guidance are as important as is empirical study for the improvement of RM regulations. Further consideration should be given to assigning current regulations for human subjects protection, RM and conflict of interest to a single authority and to the further development of a Belmont-like report of essential principles, for RM.

Senior stakeholder views on policies to foster a culture of openness in the English National Health Service: a qualitative interview study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the experiences of clinical and managerial leaders in the English healthcare system charged with implementing policy goals of openness, particularly in relation to improving employee voice. DESIGN: Semi-structured qualitative interviews. SETTING: National Health Service, regulatory and third-sector organisations in England. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-one interviewees, including senior leaders in healthcare organisations (38) and policymakers and representatives of other relevant regulatory, legal and third-sector organisations (13). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Not applicable. RESULTS: Participants recognised the limitations of treating the new policies as an exercise in procedural implementation alone and highlighted the need for additional 'cultural engineering' to engender change. However, formidable impediments included legacies of historical examples of detriment arising from speaking up, the anxiety arising from increased monitoring and the introduction of a legislative imperative and challenges in identifying areas characterised by a lack of openness and engaging with them to improve employee voice. Beyond healthcare organisations themselves, recent legal cases and examples of 'blacklisting' of whistle-blowers served to reinforce the view that giving voice to concerns was a risky endeavour. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of procedural interventions to support openness is challenging but feasible; engineering cultural change is much more daunting, given deep-rooted and pervasive assumptions about what should be said and the consequences of mis-speaking, together with ongoing ambivalences in the organisational environment about the propriety of giving voice to concerns.

Relação entre tempo de exercício profissional e ocorrências éticas em enfermagem / Relationship between length of service and ethics violations in nursing / Relación entre tiempo de ejercicio profesional y ocurrencias éticas en enfermería

Objetivo: analisar a relação entre tempo de exercício na profissão e ocorrências éticas de profissionais de enfermagem envolvidos em denúncias registradas no Conselho Regional de Enfermagem de Mato Grosso do Sul (COREN/MS). Método: trata-se de pesquisa documental, descritiva e retrospectiva, sendo analisadas as denúncias registradas junto ao COREN/MS, no período de 2003 a 2013. Pesquisa aprovada por Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultados: foram analisadas 111 denúncias, envolvendo 68 enfermeiros, 41 técnicos e 41 auxiliares de enfermagem. O grupo de profissionais com 1 a 5 anos de formação envolveu-se mais em ocorrências éticas (44,7%). Conclusão: o predominante envolvimento de profissionais de enfermagem recém-formados em ocorrências éticas indica que é imperativa a realização de mais pesquisas sobre a bioética na formação da enfermagem brasileira, seja para conhecer a real situação, quanto para fornecer subsídios para a tomada de decisão da equipe de enfermagem.

Objective: to examine the relationship between length of service and ethics violations by nursing personnel involved in complaints filed with the Mato Grosso do Sul Regional Nursing Council (COREN/MS). Method: this retrospective, descriptive, documentary study examined complaints filed with the COREN/MS, from 2003 to 2013. The study was approved by the research ethics committee. Results: 111 complaints were filed from 2003 to 2013, relating mostly to mid-level workers (54.6%). Personnel with 1-5 years of training were involved in more ethics complaints (44.7%). Conclusion: ethics complaints involved predominantly newly-graduated nurses, indicating that further bioethics research is imperative in Brazilian nursing training, both to learn the real situation and to provide input to nursing teams' decision-making.

Objetivo: analizar la relación entre tiempo de ejercicio profesional y ocurrencias éticas de profesionales de enfermería involucrados en denuncias registradas en el Consejo Regional de Enfermería de Mato Grosso do Sul (COREN/MS). Método: se trata de investigación documental, descriptiva y retrospectiva, donde se analizaron las denuncias registradas junto al COREN/MS, en el período de 2003 a 2013. Investigación aprobada por Comité de Ética en Investigación. Resultados: se analizaron 111 denuncias, involucrando a 68 enfermeros, 41 técnicos y 41 auxiliares de enfermería. El grupo de profesionales, que tenían de 1 a 5 años de recibidos, se involucró en mayor número en ocurrencias éticas (44,7%). Conclusión: la predominante implicación de los profesionales de enfermería recién recibidos en ocurrencias éticas indica que es imperativa la realización de más investigaciones sobre la bioética en la formación de la enfermería brasileña, ya sea para conocer la real situación, como para proporcionar subsidios para la toma de decisión del equipo de enfermería.