Experiences of bullying and negative acts by audiology students and interns on clinical placement

Bullying in clinical placements can significantly impact the wellbeing and career trajectories of healthcare trainees. To deepen understanding and address these issues within audiology, a survey-based approach was conducted, collecting data from Australian audiology students and interns (n=52, 70.6% audiology interns and 29.4% audiology students on clinical placement). The survey was adapted from the Clinical Workplace Learning NAQ-R. Results revealed that all participants were exposed to at least one negative act during clinical placement with nearly a third self-reporting some form of bullying. Some participants reported symptoms such as depression, self-doubt, and sleeplessness. Additionally, a substantial percentage of participants expressed intentions to quit their clinical placement or the profession altogether due to these negative experiences. The study highlights deficiencies in the implementation of workplace policies aimed at creating psychologically safe spaces for those new to the profession and emphasizes the need for effective measures to address this issue.