Health care professionals' self description

The aim of the present thesis was to survey and analyse professional self of health care professionals, focusing on perceptions of self, and on their attitudes towards aspects of sense of responsibility.Studies were accomplished with quantitative techniques using questionnaires and/or instruments. A total of 803 respondents was included, and the first study (I) presented the development of the PSDF and comprised 30 registered nurses. The next study (II) examined results from 332 medical laboratory technologists who answered the PSDF. In the third study (III) 68 occupational therapists responded to the PSDF. The fourth study (IV) was a six-year follow-up of 43 registered nurses from the beginning of their training to three years after graduation, and they responded to the PSDF, the SRF and to the Form for ranked sources of encouragement. The fifth study (V) comprised four professional groups from a university hospital in Sweden (physicians, physiotherapists, registered nurses and enrolled nurses), and 312 responded to the set of forms (the PSDF, the SRF, and the Form for ranked sources of encouragement).The main theoretical approach was based on symbolic interactionism, where the self is a significant notion. Concepts on attitude, sense of responsibility and encouragement were important.The results showed that there are components of self description that is 'specific to one professional group, but also components that uncover similarities. Three important components of professional self were outlined; professional conduct, work ability and empathy. Important issues were also encouragement for work done, which influences the professional self, and that the positive attitudes to sense of responsibility showed similarities with characteristics of professional self.In conclusion, two propositions were addressed: that professionals' self description is composed of three meaningful dimensions; professional conduct, work ability and empathy, and that the professional self can be improved throughdevelopment of intrinsic attitudes and behaviours.