Perceptions of professional attributes in medicine: A qualitative study in Hong Kong

Perceptions of professional attributes in medicine: A qualitative study in Hong Kong

• Leung, Danny C. Medical Ethics Unit, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong
• Hsu, Enoch K. Medical Ethics Unit, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong
• Hui, Edwin C. Medical Ethics Unit, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong Medical Journal, 18(4), 318-324, 2012

Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Press

2012

• G Curriculum, Teaching & Learning: Specific Disciplines
  • GH Sport Science, Health & Welfare

Clinical Competence Delivery of Health Care Physician Patient Relations Professional Practice Physician Charter Students Care Education Culture Choice General & Internal Medicine

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Post-Secondary Education

OBJECTIVE. Medical professionalism has been widely discussed in western scholarly literature. However, since Hong Kong has a mixed Chinese-western culture, it remains uncertain whether Hong Kong health care professionals, medical students, and patients see medical professionalism in exactly the same way as westerners. The objective of the present study was to explore perceptions of medical professionalism in Hong Kong.
DESIGN. Individual semi-structured interviews.
SETTING. Medical faculty preceptors, residents, interns, nurses, and students from the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. Subjects were recruited at an out-patient clinic of Queen Mary Hospital.
PARTICIPANTS. We interviewed 39 subjects, including six medical faculty preceptors, six hospital residents, four medical interns, eight nurses, eight out-patients, and seven medical students. The interviews were transcribed and coded. Grounded theory was employed for framing and analysing the interviews.
RESULTS. A total of 30 primary themes were identified and grouped under three secondary themes, ie 'Expectations of a professional doctor', 'Work values', and 'Patient care'. In general, the primary themes were consistent with recognised professional attributes in western bioethics, such as knowledge and skills, holistic care, and communication skills. A closer analysis suggested that traditional Chinese thought also played an important role in shaping the medical professionalism of Hong Kong. Challenges to be faced by Hong Kong doctors due to recent social changes were also identified.
CONCLUSIONS. Medical professionalism in Hong Kong is shaped by both western medical ethics and traditional Chinese thought. The values treasured by Hong Kong health care professionals as well as technological advance, and the city's proximity to Mainland China makes Hong Kong health care unique. It is important to maintain the present work attitudes and at the same time adapt to new social changes.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Press. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://www.hkmj.org/]

• English

Journal Articles

• 10242708

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/3a85f095

2014-08-07