Peder Ahnfeldt-Mollerup1, René dePont Christensen2, Anders Halling2, Troels Kristensen2, Jesper Lykkegaard2, Jørgen Nexøe2, Fred Barwell3, Peter Spurgeon4, Jens Søndergaard2. 1. Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, pahnfeldt-mollerup@health.sdu.dk. 2. Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 3. Applied Research Ltd, Warley, West Midlands, UK and. 4. Institute of Clinical Leadership, Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medical engagement is a mutual concept of the active and positive contribution of doctors to maintaining and enhancing the performance of their health care organization, which itself recognizes this commitment in supporting and encouraging high quality care. A Medical Engagement Scale (MES) was developed by Applied Research Ltd (2008) on the basis of emerging evidence that medical engagement is critical for implementing radical improvements. OBJECTIVES: To study the importance of medical engagement in general practice and to analyse patterns of association with individual and organizational characteristics. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional study using a sampled survey questionnaire and the official register from the Danish General Practitioners' Organization comprising all registered Danish GPs. METHOD: The Danish version of the MES Questionnaire was distributed and the survey results were analysed in conjunction with the GP register data. RESULTS: Statistically adjusted analyses revealed that the GPs' medical engagement varied substantially. GPs working in collaboration with colleagues were more engaged than GPs from single-handed practices, older GPs were less engaged than younger GPs and female GPs had higher medical engagement than their male colleagues. Furthermore, GPs participating in vocational training of junior doctors were more engaged than GPs not participating in vocational training. CONCLUSION: Medical engagement in general practice varies a great deal and this is determined by a complex interaction between both individual and organizational characteristics. Working in collaboration, having staff and being engaged in vocational training of junior doctors are all associated with enhanced levels of medical engagement among GPs.
BACKGROUND: Medical engagement is a mutual concept of the active and positive contribution of doctors to maintaining and enhancing the performance of their health care organization, which itself recognizes this commitment in supporting and encouraging high quality care. A Medical Engagement Scale (MES) was developed by Applied Research Ltd (2008) on the basis of emerging evidence that medical engagement is critical for implementing radical improvements. OBJECTIVES: To study the importance of medical engagement in general practice and to analyse patterns of association with individual and organizational characteristics. DESIGN AND SETTING: A cross-sectional study using a sampled survey questionnaire and the official register from the Danish General Practitioners' Organization comprising all registered Danish GPs. METHOD: The Danish version of the MES Questionnaire was distributed and the survey results were analysed in conjunction with the GP register data. RESULTS: Statistically adjusted analyses revealed that the GPs' medical engagement varied substantially. GPs working in collaboration with colleagues were more engaged than GPs from single-handed practices, older GPs were less engaged than younger GPs and female GPs had higher medical engagement than their male colleagues. Furthermore, GPs participating in vocational training of junior doctors were more engaged than GPs not participating in vocational training. CONCLUSION: Medical engagement in general practice varies a great deal and this is determined by a complex interaction between both individual and organizational characteristics. Working in collaboration, having staff and being engaged in vocational training of junior doctors are all associated with enhanced levels of medical engagement among GPs.
Authors: Peder Ahnfeldt-Mollerup; Jens Søndergaard; Fred Barwell; Patti M Mazelan; Peter Spurgeon; Troels Kristensen Journal: Qual Manag Health Care Date: 2018 Oct/Dec Impact factor: 0.926