Team players and helpers - describing professional identity among finnish physicians in a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Every physician has a unique professional identity. However, little is known about the diversity of identities among physicians. This study aimed to quantitatively assess the professional identity of physicians in Finland using descriptions of professional identity. METHODS: This study was part of a larger cross-sectional Finnish Physician 2018 Study. The target population consisted of all Finnish physicians under the age of 70 (N = 24,827) in 2018. The sample was drawn from physicians born on even numbered days (N = 11,336) using the Finnish Medical Association register. A total of 5,187 (46%) physicians responded. Professional identity was examined by 27 given characterisations using a five-point Likert scale. Multivariate logistic regression was used in assessing how place of work, graduation year and gender were associated with identity descriptions. RESULTS: The descriptions which most physicians identified with were "member of a working group/team" (82%), "helper" (82%), and "health expert" (79%); the majority reported these as describing them very or quite well. Identity descriptions such as "prescriber of medications" (68% vs. 45%), "prioritiser" (57% vs. 35%) and "someone issuing certificates" (52% vs. 32%) were more popular among junior than senior physicians. The biggest differences between the genders were found in the descriptions "provider of comfort" (62% vs. 40%) and "someone engaged in social work" (45% vs. 25%), with which women identified more frequently than men. CONCLUSIONS: Strong identification as a member of a team is an important finding in the increasingly multiprofessional world of health care. Importantly, most physicians shared several core professional identity descriptions (i.e., helper, health expert) that reflect the traditional image of an exemplary doctor.

Research orientation among general practitioners compared to other specialties.

OBJECTIVE: The volume of research work done by general practitioners (GP) is modest compared to other specialties. In order to find out reasons for this we examined the current situation concerning research orientation and factors relating to them among Finnish GPs compared to other specialists. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data from The Physician 2018 Study were used for our research. The study was undertaken in collaboration with all five medical faculties in Finland and the Finnish Medical Association. It compiled information on physicians` social background, work history and career and research plans as well as their views regarding undergraduate and specialist training, values, and professional identity. SUBJECTS: The basic study population comprised all Finnish doctors under 70 years of age (N = 23,131). Questionnaires were sent to doctors born on even-numbered days (n = 11,336). Altogether 5,214 (45.8%) responded. Responses from GPs (n = 796) were compared with those of doctors in other specialties (n = 3,514). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: The respondents were asked about their current intention to undertake a doctoral degree. Factors associated with this were analysed. Only 7.3% of GPs had completed a doctoral degree. The corresponding figure in other specialties was 32.3% (p < 0.001). In general practice the current intention to undertake a doctoral degree had only slightly increased over ten years. Most GPs had also decided not to undertake a doctorate. The main factors associated with the current intention to complete a doctoral degree were interest in attaining a senior position (OR 3.43, 95% CI 2.25-5.24), a position in a university hospital district (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.69-4.94) or other sector than primary care (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.18-2.96), one's father being a doctor (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.09-3.72) and male gender (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.05-2.54). CONCLUSION: Research work in primary health care has been quite sparse. In general practice there is a need to increase teaching and guidance in research work.Key pointsResearch work in primary health care is not very common.Only 7.3% of GPs had completed their doctorate compared to 32.3% in other specialties.A main factor associated with the current intention to complete a doctoral degree was interest in attaining a senior position.

What predicts doctors' satisfaction with their chosen medical specialty? A Finnish national study.

BACKGROUND: In Finland the number of medical specialists varies between specialties and regions. More regulation of the post-graduate medical training is planned. Therefore, it is important to clarify what predicts doctors' satisfaction with their chosen specialty. METHODS: A random sample contained 50% of all Finnish doctors under 70 years of age. The respose rate was 50.5%. Working-age specialists were asked to value their motives when choosing a specialty. They were also asked if they would choose the same specialty again. The odds ratios for not choosing the same specialty again were tested. RESULTS: Diversity of work was the most important motive (74% of respondents). Seventeen percent of GPs would not choose the same specialty again, compared to 2% of ophthalmologists and 4% of pediatricians. A major role of Diversity of work and Prestigious field correlated with satisfaction whereas Chance with dissatisfaction with the specialty. DISCUSSION: Motives and issues related to the work and training best correlate with satisfaction with the specialty. CONCLUSIONS: When the numbers of Finnish postgraduate medical training posts become regulated, a renewed focus should be given to finding the most suitable speciality for each doctor. Information about employment and career advice should play an important role in this.

Factors important in the choice of a medical career: a Finnish national study.

BACKGROUND: Applying for medical school is the first and also one of the most important career choices a physician makes. It is important to understand the reasons behind this decision if we are to choose the best applicants for medical schools and enable them to pursue satisfying careers. METHODS: Respondents to the Finnish Junior Physician 88, Physician 1998 and Physician 2008 studies were asked: "To what extent did the following factors influence your decision to apply for medical school?" In 1998 and 2008 the respondents were also asked: "If you were starting your studies now, would you start studying medicine?" and had to answer "Yes" or "No". The odds ratios for the answer "No" were tested using logistic regression models. RESULTS: "Interest in people" was the main motive for starting to study medicine. "Good salary" and "Prestigious profession" were more important motives for males and "Vocation" and "Interest in people" for females. There were some significant changes in the motives for entering medicine in the 20-year period between studies. "Vocation" and "Wide range of professional opportunities" as important motives for entering medicine predicted satisfaction with the medical profession. DISCUSSION: Strong inner motivation may indicate the ability to adapt to the demands of work as a physician. CONCLUSIONS: Medical schools should try to select those applicants with the greatest vocational inclination towards a medical career.

Factors associated with general practice specialty training satisfaction - results from the Finnish Physician Study.

In Finland, achieving licensure as a specialist in general practice takes six years, with four years of training in primary care. Usually training arrangements are evaluated by trainees and their trainers. In this study the opinions of licensed GPs with experience of working in practice were specifically addressed. Our aim was to evaluate Finnish general practitioners' satisfaction with their specialty training and with the training programme. Correlations between these evaluations were investigated using logistic regression analyses. Participants comprised 416 GPs and 131 GP trainees, who responded to the Finnish Physician 2008 Study (response rate 53.7%). The respondents were asked how satisfied they were with their own specialty training in general, how satisfied they were with 12 items in their specialty training programme, and how well specialty training matched the requirements of GP work. Two-thirds of GPs and GP trainees were satisfied with their specialty training. Almost three in four felt that GP training succeeded in matching the requirements of work in general practice. Good ratings of diagnostic skill learning during GP training were predictive of overall training satisfaction. Clinical training relevant to GP work is the key element in ensuring satisfaction with general practice specialty training. The views of qualified GPs with experience gained in work provide a valuable addition to the total transformational quality management of GP training.

The non-clinical contents of GP training need more attention. Results from the Finnish Physician Study.

BACKGROUND: The competencies required of a GP are complex and ever-expanding. GP training should adequately cover all the content areas. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess GPs' and GP trainees' satisfaction with their specialist training and with the contents of training. Trends in assessments over a ten-year period were investigated. METHODS: Data from Finnish national surveys of physicians conducted in 1998, 2003 and 2008 were analysed with 606, 457 and 324 GPs and GP trainees respectively being sampled in the present study. Respondents were asked how satisfied they were with their own specialist training in general, and how much instruction they had received in 12 specific areas during their specialist training. RESULTS: Satisfaction with GP training slowly increased during the study years. In 2008, 59% of respondents were satisfied with their training, compared to 46% in 1998. The best covered content area was clinical work. Major shortcomings were reported in many of the content areas analysed, e.g. management and leadership. CONCLUSION: Although the trend in satisfaction with GP training in Finland is for the better, there are shortcomings, especially in many of the non-clinical content areas of training. More attention needs to be paid to these areas in the future.

How do doctors choose where they want to work? - motives for choice of current workplace among physicians registered in Finland 1977-2006.

Though there are a number of studies investigating the career choices of physicians, there are only few concerning doctors' choices of workplace. A random sample (N=7758) of physicians licensed in Finland during the years 1977-2006 was surveyed. Respondents were asked: "To what extent did the following motives affect your choice of your current workplace?" Respondents were grouped based on several background variables. The groups were used as independent variables in univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The factors Good workplace, Career and professional development, Non-work related issues, Personal contacts and Salary were formed and used as dependent variables. There were significant differences between groups of physicians, especially in terms of gender, working sector and specialties. The association of Good workplace, Career and professional development, and Non-work related issues with the choice of a workplace significantly decreased with age. Female physicians were more concerned with Career and professional development and Non-work related issues. Since more females are entering the medical profession and there is an ongoing change of generations, health care organizations and policy makers need to develop a new philosophy in order to attract physicians. This will need to include more human-centric management and leadership, better possibilities for continuous professional development, and more personalized working arrangements depending on physician's personal motives.

Where have all the GPs gone--where will they go? Study of Finnish GPs.

BACKGROUND: In this paper a specialist in general practice is referred to as a general practitioner (GP). In Finland only half of all GPs work as a health centre physician. The present aim was to establish what the working places of specializing and specialized physicians in general practice are, and where they assume they will work in the future. METHODS: The study population comprised 5,357 physicians licensed in Finland during the years 1977-1996. Altogether 2,956 questionnaires were returned, a response rate of 55.2%. Those either specializing (GP trainees, n=133) or already having specialized (GPs, n=426) in general practice were included in the study. Respondents were asked what kind of physician's work they would most preferably do. They were further asked what work they assumed they would be doing in the year 2020. RESULTS: Altogether 72% were working in public primary health centres and 14% in the private sector. Of GPs 53% and of GP trainees 70% would most preferably work in health centres. Of GPs 14% would most preferably work as private practitioners and 9% as occupational health physicians. Sixteen per cent assumed they would be working as private practitioners and 35% assumed they would be retired in the year 2020. Of GP trainees 57% assumed they would be working as health centre physicians in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: According to the present findings many experienced GPs will leave their work as a health centre physician. Moreover, several GP trainees do not consider health centre physician's work as a long-term career option. These trends may in the future reflect a recruiting problem in many primary health centres.

Choosing a medical specialty--study of Finnish doctors graduating in 1977-2006.

BACKGROUND: Choosing a medical specialty is an important element predefining a physician's career and life. Although there has been some research in this area of interest, there has not been much research where the profession has been researched as a whole, or where trend data over different generations has been presented. AIM: The aim of our study was to ascertain the motives affecting physicians' choice of a medical specialty. METHODS: The study cohort comprised random sample of 7758 doctors who were registered in Finland during the years 1977-2006. Altogether 4167 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 54%. An electronic questionnaire was used in data collection, supported by a traditional postal questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the respondents, 76% thought the diversity of the field had affected their choices of specialty considerably or very much. For physicians under 35 years old, especially the good example set by colleagues (48%), and opportunities for career development (39%) were more important motives compared to those of older physicians. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, diversity of the work is the main motivating factor affecting physicians' choices of specialty. Especially, younger physicians follow the example set by more experienced colleagues.