From professionalism to commercialism in healthcare: a phenomenological study.

Abstract

To explore the perceptions of doctors holding dual jobs regarding professionalism in public and private healthcare sectors. The qualitative phenomenological study was conducted from January to June 2016 in a tertiary care teaching hospital affiliated with Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, and comprised 10 doctors holding dual jobs. Data was collected through video-recorded interviews which were transcribed verbatim and analysed for themes using interpretative phenomenological analysis. There were 10 doctors in the study. Monetary benefit was the main motive behind holding dual jobs. Contented and internally motivated practitioners with faith in Almighty and a sense of accountability before Him were likely to behave much more professionally, and a virtue-based medical education could play a vital role in this regard. Overall lack of faith and internal motivation has shifted the focus of sustenance to material resources.