Understanding the Stakeholders' Perspectives on Professionalism in Healthcare:
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Khan, Junaid Sarfraz
Title Proper by Another Author
A Cross-Cultural Analysis
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Byrne, Theresa Paula
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
The University of Liverpool (United Kingdom)
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2020
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
330
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Body granting the degree
The University of Liverpool (United Kingdom)
Text preceding or following the note
2020
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
The term 'medical professionalism' lacks a universally agreed definition. The purpose of this research was to understand the meanings made by a range of stakeholders-doctors, patients, health profession students, healthcare policymakers, nurses and other allied healthcare professionals-of their lived experiences and perceptions of medical professionalism, across the demographically, economically and socio-culturally divergent province of Punjab in Pakistan. The focus was on how different individuals involved within healthcare delivery would make sense of the term depending on their lived experiences and socio-cultural standing within the community, the prevalent culture, the context and setting and other less understood factors. It seemed possible that comparisons of this understanding between the Pakistani study group and other parts of the world (as represented in the literature) would help in developing a more nuanced and useful definition of medical professionalism. The following three questions guided the research: 1) What are the perceptions of doctors, nurses, students, administrators and policymakers in Punjab, Pakistan, regarding medical professionalism? 2) How does this sense-making of medical professionalism amongst stakeholders in the Punjab, Pakistan, compare with the evidence available in the international literature regarding sense-making by stakeholders in other regions of the world? 3) How do the perceptions and understanding of medical professionalism differ amongst various stakeholders within the healthcare delivery system of the Punjab, Pakistan? The study design was qualitative and a case study approach was employed. 530 individuals took part in thirty-eight focus group discussions, with 8-15 participants in each group, in various settings across the province of Punjab, comprising doctors, health professional students, patients, policy-makers, nurses and other allied health professionals. Thematic analysis was undertaken of the transcribed data. Four distinct superordinate themes were identified: VALUES-DRIVEN, ADEPT, POTENT LEADER and SUPPORTED. These four themes were common to all stakeholder groups. All resonate closely with themes in the international literature, although the theme SUPPORTED appears to draw together issues in a way unique to the Pakistan context. There were greater variations in findings from amongst the stakeholder groups at the subordinate themes and further lower levels of thematic analysis. Related to their different contexts and experiences, different stakeholder groups emphasised the following aspects: professional identity; the need for training; the support for professionalism (or lack of it) within their working environment; the link between religious beliefs and professional behaviour; cultural expectations of the doctor-petient relationship. It is concluded that understanding of medical professionalism vaies among stakeholders and depends on context, culture, environment and many other factors identified in this research. Professionalism, thus, is not a static, stable construct and it is not possible to confine it within a single generic definition on account of its cultural and situational dependency. It is a dynamic and constantly evolving phenomenon which cannot be represented by the type of linear, unidimensional model typically presented by the majority of researchers. This research study lays the foundation for further research in this area, especially in trying to understand how best to promote medical professionalism so as to ensure that healthcare encounters are meaningful and satisfactory for all concerned.