Understanding Surgeon Professionalism in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study in a Multicultural and Resource-Limited...

Area of Science:

• Medical Sociology
• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Surgeons' professionalism is crucial for safe surgical care, especially in Indonesia's complex healthcare environment.
• Cultural and systemic factors uniquely influence healthcare delivery and professionalism in Indonesia.
• Existing research lacks a national-level exploration of surgical professionalism within Indonesia's diverse context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perceptions of surgeon professionalism among healthcare professionals and patients in Indonesia.
• To emphasize the impact of cultural and systemic influences on surgeon professionalism.
• To identify key themes of professionalism relevant to the Indonesian healthcare setting.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative phenomenological study utilizing in-depth interviews.
• Conducted across diverse healthcare institutions (public, private, military) in Indonesia.
• 27 participants (surgeons, nurses, physicians, management, patients) recruited via snowball sampling; reflexivity and triangulation used.

Main Results:

• Identified four non-technical themes of surgeon professionalism: role fulfillment, integrity, communication, and collaboration.
• These themes are significantly influenced by Indonesian cultural values.
• Systemic challenges, including healthcare resource disparities, also shape professionalism.

Conclusions:

• Surgeon professionalism in Indonesia is distinct due to local cultural and structural factors.
• Findings offer insights for culturally sensitive interventions to enhance professionalism and surgical care quality.
• Addressing these unique dynamics is vital for improving patient safety and healthcare outcomes.