Doctors on Values and Advocacy: A Qualitative and Evaluative Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Public Health Advocacy
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• Professional organizations encourage doctors to engage in supraclinical advocacy.
• Advocacy aims to modify systems and practices to address social determinants of health.
• Limited empirical research exists on the moral basis for doctors' advocacy decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the values and processes influencing medical graduates' decisions to become advocates.
• To understand the factors shaping doctors' engagement in supraclinical advocacy.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing an opportunistic sample of medical graduates from Sydney Medical School.
• Exploration of personal values and experiences related to advocacy roles.

Main Results:

• Personal ideals, rather than professional commitments, significantly shape doctors' advocacy decisions.
• Early life and training experiences, including exposure to power dynamics, influence role choices.
• Doctors integrate advocacy into practice when it aligns with their pursuit of excellence.

Conclusions:

• Current approaches to promoting advocacy may not align with doctors' core values and experiences.
• Understanding doctors' moral commitments is crucial for medical ethics and education.
• Further research is needed to inform effective strategies for fostering physician advocacy.