Young Medical Doctors’ Perspectives on Professionalism: A Qualitative Study Conducted in Public Hospitals in Pakistan
Abstract Background: Professionalism is amongst the major dimensions indicating the competence of medical doctors. A low professionalism affects the overall outcome of healthcare services. This study explores the perspectives of young medical doctors on professionalism in Pakistan.Methods: A qualitative study based on in-depth interviews was conducted with 60 young medical doctors, aged less than 40 years, who studied medicine in Pakistani universities, were Pakistani nationals, and were employed at various hierarchal levels from house officer to consultant specialist in public tertiary hospitals in Pakistan. The respondents were identified through a multistage maximum heterogeneity sampling strategy. A semi-structured interview guide was developed based on a previous extensive literature review. Written consent was obtained from the hospitals and study participants. Qualitative thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data. Results: The data analysis revealed that the rigidity of opinions, unacceptability of contrasting perspectives, false pride and perceived superiority over other professions and patients as major components of low medical professionalism. Most of the young doctors believed that there is no need to include professionalism and humanity course modules in the medical curriculum, because topics related to social sciences are deemed irrelevant to medicine and judged as common sense. The doctors recognised high professionalism in themselves, while reporting unprofessional behaviour demonstrated by their colleagues and paramedics. Other factors contributing to low medical professionalism included the use of social media applications during duty hours, ridiculing the patients, substance use such as cigarettes in the office, referrals of complicated cases to other hospitals, freeing up beds before holidays, lack of cooperation from the paramedical staff, inadequate role models and inappropriate salaries. Conclusions: Low medical professionalism among young doctors needs to be addressed by policymakers. Lack of training about professionalism, ethical service delivery, performance monitoring and evaluation mechanisms at public hospitals are contributing to substandard medical practice. There is a need to revisit the medical curriculum to strengthen professionalism. It is essential to develop the qualities of tolerance, teachability and acceptance in the doctors for facilitating interprofessional collaborations and avoiding medical errors.