Doctors-turned-budding sociologists have confirmed what most doctors know already — it’s not only patients who can be difficult. Medical colleagues can be tricky to navigate too.

Three US gastroenterologists have identified four key “disruptive physician” types who can make it hard for colleagues to negotiate care for patients.

Writing in Gastroenterology, they say a major US report on patient safety shows that such disruptive behaviours can lead to medical errors, poor patient satisfaction, preventable adverse outcomes, increased cost of care and can push colleagues to change jobs.

They say they hope to provide guidance on how best to interact with some of these difficult types, when a patient’s care is at stake.