Physicians’ professionalism from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study at a single-family practice in Saudi Arabia
Abstract Introduction Professionalism is a crucial component of medical practice. It is a culturally sensitive notion that generally consists of behaviors, values, communication, and relationships. This study is a qualitative study exploring physician professionalism from the patients’ perspective....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Ethics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-023-00918-9 |
| _version_ | 1797806505951494144 |
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| author | Eiad AlFaris Farhana Irfan Noura Abouammoh Nasriah Zakaria Abdullah MA Ahmed Omar Kasule Dina M Aldosari Nora A AlSahli Mohammed Ghatar Alshibani Gominda Ponnamperuma |
| author_facet | Eiad AlFaris Farhana Irfan Noura Abouammoh Nasriah Zakaria Abdullah MA Ahmed Omar Kasule Dina M Aldosari Nora A AlSahli Mohammed Ghatar Alshibani Gominda Ponnamperuma |
| author_sort | Eiad AlFaris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Professionalism is a crucial component of medical practice. It is a culturally sensitive notion that generally consists of behaviors, values, communication, and relationships. This study is a qualitative study exploring physician professionalism from the patients’ perspective. Methods Focus group discussions with patients attending a family medicine center attached to a tertiary care hospital were carried out using the four gates model of Arabian medical professionalism that is appropriate to Arab culture. Discussions with patients were recorded and transcribed. Data were thematically analyzed using NVivo software. Results Three main themes emerged from the data. (1) In dealing with patients, participants expected respect but understood delays in seeing physicians due to their busy schedules. In communication, participants expected to be informed about their health conditions and to have their questions answered. (2) In dealing with tasks, participants expected proper examination and transparency of diagnosis, but some expected the physician to know everything and did not appreciate them seeking outside opinions. They expected to see the same physician at every visit. (3) In physician characteristics preferences, participants preferred friendly smiling physicians. Some cared about the outer appearance of the physician whereas others did not. Discussion/conclusions The findings of the study explained only two themes of the four gates model namely dealing with patients and dealing with tasks. Cultural competence and how to benefit from patients’ perceptions to be an ideal physician should be incorporated into the process of physicians’ training. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:08:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f68d9fcd8f64665ab0e9990bd40d810 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6939 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:08:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Ethics |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f68d9fcd8f64665ab0e9990bd40d8102023-06-11T11:24:44ZengBMCBMC Medical Ethics1472-69392023-06-0124111110.1186/s12910-023-00918-9Physicians’ professionalism from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study at a single-family practice in Saudi ArabiaEiad AlFaris0Farhana Irfan1Noura Abouammoh2Nasriah Zakaria3Abdullah MA Ahmed4Omar Kasule5Dina M Aldosari6Nora A AlSahli7Mohammed Ghatar Alshibani8Gominda Ponnamperuma9Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University Chair for Medical Education Research and Development, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University Chair for Medical Education Research and Development, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University Chair for Medical Education Research and Development, King Saud UniversityEhealth Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University MalayaDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University Chair for Medical Education Research and Development, King Saud UniversityAcademic and Training Affairs, King Fahad Medical CityKing Khalid Hospital, King Saud UniversityKing Khalid Hospital, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of ColomboAbstract Introduction Professionalism is a crucial component of medical practice. It is a culturally sensitive notion that generally consists of behaviors, values, communication, and relationships. This study is a qualitative study exploring physician professionalism from the patients’ perspective. Methods Focus group discussions with patients attending a family medicine center attached to a tertiary care hospital were carried out using the four gates model of Arabian medical professionalism that is appropriate to Arab culture. Discussions with patients were recorded and transcribed. Data were thematically analyzed using NVivo software. Results Three main themes emerged from the data. (1) In dealing with patients, participants expected respect but understood delays in seeing physicians due to their busy schedules. In communication, participants expected to be informed about their health conditions and to have their questions answered. (2) In dealing with tasks, participants expected proper examination and transparency of diagnosis, but some expected the physician to know everything and did not appreciate them seeking outside opinions. They expected to see the same physician at every visit. (3) In physician characteristics preferences, participants preferred friendly smiling physicians. Some cared about the outer appearance of the physician whereas others did not. Discussion/conclusions The findings of the study explained only two themes of the four gates model namely dealing with patients and dealing with tasks. Cultural competence and how to benefit from patients’ perceptions to be an ideal physician should be incorporated into the process of physicians’ training.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-023-00918-9Physician professionalismPatient perceptionsPatient satisfactionQualitative study |
| spellingShingle | Eiad AlFaris Farhana Irfan Noura Abouammoh Nasriah Zakaria Abdullah MA Ahmed Omar Kasule Dina M Aldosari Nora A AlSahli Mohammed Ghatar Alshibani Gominda Ponnamperuma Physicians’ professionalism from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study at a single-family practice in Saudi Arabia BMC Medical Ethics Physician professionalism Patient perceptions Patient satisfaction Qualitative study |
| title | Physicians’ professionalism from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study at a single-family practice in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Physicians’ professionalism from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study at a single-family practice in Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Physicians’ professionalism from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study at a single-family practice in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physicians’ professionalism from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study at a single-family practice in Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Physicians’ professionalism from the patients’ perspective: a qualitative study at a single-family practice in Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | physicians professionalism from the patients perspective a qualitative study at a single family practice in saudi arabia |
| topic | Physician professionalism Patient perceptions Patient satisfaction Qualitative study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-023-00918-9 |
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