The Imperative for Identifying Personality Traits in Healthcare Professionals, Allied Healthcare Professionals, and First Responders: A Profiling Perspective

There exists notable neglect in research of identifying imperatives for personality traits and profiling assessment in Healthcare professionals (HCPs), Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs), and First Responders. A large scoping review of 133 studies, which included numerous assessment tools, was undertaken- via a JBI approach- to investigate if there is an imperative for identifying personality traits in these population groups. Investigation of personality assessment and profiling in the realm of: Neuroticism; Psychoticism; and Dark Triad personality traits, was examined, which are often overlapping. The approach taken in this study was with an enduring commitment to risk mitigation. Professions per category included: HCPs: doctors (including specialists, interns, registrars); nurses; dentists; clinical academic researchers. AHPs: social workers; psychologists; physiotherapists; and, radiologists. First Responders: paramedics; law enforcement; firefighters; and many more related professions. Though a number of positive personality traits were detected, the argument for necessary profiling of individuals is explicated by the existent levels of Neuroticism and/or Psychoticism discovered within individual HCPs; AHPs; and, First Responders. The identification of these traits via personality assessment, and through profiling techniques, is always incredibly alarming. The Wilma scenario; and, medico-legal patient homicide, is supportively introduced. Consideration is given to: expulsion; deregistration/de-licensing; placement under supervision; and implementation of intervention strategies (if potentially successful) as the remedy to risk traits for the relevant individual worker. In extreme cases, such as identification of Dark Triad personality traits, the proposed process may naturally differ. Otherwise, workers may seek urgent intervention (e.g. an extended respite from work- assessable upon return to work initiatives); alternative employment; or, choose to reject necessary intervention. The vital importance of personality traits’ assessment and profiling of HCPs, AHPs, and First Responders encapsulates consideration of obligatory risk management; red flag alerts; assessment components included in: job recruitment, performance reviews and, post-critical incident debriefings; and, as part of educational curriculum (including undergraduate students). Highly relevant to HCPs, AHPs, First Responders are personality traits which directly effect Patient safety and appropriateness of care. Impactful conditions which may affect workers, from deleterious clinical decision-making, may involve: moral distress; Second Victim Syndrome (or Secondary Traumatic Stress); Burnout; and, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Further research is needed regarding ongoing personality assessment and profiling needed of all (from informal to formal) (and from undergraduates to seasoned professionals). Longitudinal monitoring of: Allied Healthcare, First Responder, and Healthcare, professional domains remain paramount in ensuring effective, as medical error free, and ethical, environments, as possible.