Image: UFV / Provided / Dr. Alexander Villafranca

By Alyssa Conti

UFV RESEARCH

Chilliwack-based researcher sheds light on toxic operating room cultures

Sep 7, 2025 | 4:13 PM

CHILLIWACK — A Chilliwack-based researcher from the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is looking to tackle toxic behaviours in a high-stakes, life-saving workplace: hospital operating rooms.

Dr. Alexander Villafranca spent countless hours in operating rooms when he worked as a research technician in 2010.

“I attended about 750 cardiac surgeries and saw firsthand a lot of interpersonal dynamics,” he recalled. “I saw incidents that I found a little bit shocking, and when I spoke to people, they suggested that it’s par for the course and medicine’s dirty secret.”

The experience led him to embark on years of studies into negative attitudes in the O.R., hoping to combat behaviour that can put both patients and staff at risk.

One project led by Villafranca surveyed 7,500 clinicians across seven countries, and found 97 per cent were exposed to at least one incident of disruptive behaviour over the course of a year. The average number was about 60 events.

Police incident

Police presence surrounds Hope residence Sunday night

1h ago

Overnight detours on Highway 1

Highway 1 detours through Langley for the next 3 weeks will begin this Tuesday: B.C. govt.

2h ago

Wind warning

Wind warning in effect for the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt, Crowsnest east of Hope

2h ago

“When I tell that to laypeople, they’re shocked at the 97 per cent,” Villafranca said. “But when I tell that to clinicians, they’re shocked that three per cent haven’t experienced something.”

Part of the issue, he added, is the high-stress environment – staff are typically crowded into a small space over long hours, with very few breaks.

He has since developed a survey tool to monitor the problem and track how people respond to it. By identifying the issue, managers may be able to pinpoint key triggers in the workplace and reduce the number of incidents.

“There are clinicians who are willing to confront it and study it and try to make systemic change, and those are the people I try to align myself with.”

More information about Villafranca’s research is available through the study’s website.