Health and social care workers' professional values: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare professional values
• Integrated care
• Social work ethics

Background:

• Professional values are foundational for effective collaboration and person-centered care in integrated health and social services.
• Understanding how diverse healthcare professionals perceive their professional values is crucial but underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and compare the professional value orientation across various health and social care worker groups in Finland.
• To identify factors influencing professional values in integrated care settings.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative, cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 1823 health and social care workers and students.
• The Finnish version of the Nurses' Professional Values Scale-3 was utilized for data collection.
• Descriptive and advanced statistical analyses were performed to interpret the data.

Main Results:

• The overall level of professional values was high, with a significant emphasis on providing equal care.
• Professional values were more pronounced in individuals with higher education, ethics training, organizational support, job satisfaction, and shorter work experience.
• A need for enhanced societal engagement and professional responsibilities within work environments was identified.

Conclusions:

• Shared professional values exist among health and social care workers and students, supporting integrated care models.
• Continuous training in professional ethics and robust organizational support for ethical practices are essential.
• Fostering work satisfaction is vital for sustaining professional values throughout healthcare careers.