Læknablaðið - 01.12.2021, Síða 32

596 L ÆKNABL AÐIÐ 2021/107
R A N N S Ó K N
um fagmennsku án hamlandi áhrifa frá ófullnægjandi starfsum-
hverfi.
Þakkir
Höfundar þakka Kristjáni Kristjánssyni, Stephen Earl og Francisco
Moller við Jubilee-rannsóknarsetrið við Birmingham-háskóla í
Bretlandi fyrir góða aðstoð við undirbúning og úrvinnslu rann-
sóknarinnar. Starfsfólki á skrifstofum Hugvísindastofnunar og
heilbrigðisvísindasviðs HÍ eru jafnframt færðar þakkir fyrir veitta
aðstoð. Þátttakendum er þakkað fyrir tíma sinn og veitt svör.
Rannsóknin er hluti af stærra rannsóknarverkefni (Siðræn-
ar dygðir og læknismenntun) sem innifól úrtakshóp á meðal
læknanema við læknadeild HÍ á 1.-3. námsári. Sökum þess að
læknanemar hafa ekki starfsreynslu sem læknar tók þessi hluti
rannsóknarinnar ekki til þeirra.
E N G L I S H S U M M A R Y
Svanur Sigurbjörnsson1
Vilhjálmur Árnason2
1Faculty of Medicine 2Faculty of History and Philosophy,
University of Iceland.
Correspondence: Svanur Sigurbjörnsson, svan@hi.is
Key words: professional moral character, clinical working environment,
stress, good medical practice, autonomy, virtue ethics
Professional moral character of physicians and clinical
working environment
INTRODUCTION. A survey of the experience of Icelandic medical candidates, general
physicians, and specialty physicians of clinical work, aimed to show how the working
environment affects doctors’ moral character and experience of support, well-being and
expectations. For comparison, results of a British survey with the same questions for
specialty physicians were used.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. A total of 89 physicians answered 15 questions. Statistical
comparison was made between results from topical clusters of questions.
RESULTS. The results show a significant problem in work conditions of Icelandic doctors.
Their experience is rated low in the second quarter (2,1 – 3,0) on a numerical scale of how
the environment thwarts professional character and of lack of support. In comparison with
British specialists, their experience is similar but slighly better regarding supportiveness.
Icelandic candidates and general physicians experience significantly more stress,
less support and autonomy in their work than specialists. Compared to the British, the
experience of Icelandic specialists was more positive about professional autonomy and
emotional attachment to the work. Our survey shows for the first time the effect of the
working environment on professional virtues of Icelandic doctors.
DISCUSSION. These findings resonate with the literature that the moral character of doctors
contributes to satisfaction, flourishing and experience of meaningfulness. They substantiate
views raised by Icelandic physicians about tremendous work stress and scarcity of staff.
The survey demonstrates the doctors‘ experience of work-related challenges and provides
reasons for society to improve their working conditions to enable them to live up to their
ideals.
doi 10.17992/lbl.2021.12.666
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Greinin barst til blaðsins 21. maí 2021,
samþykkt til birtingar 18. október 2021.