Dilemmas of professional work: the case of family physicians

Nancy Côté, Jean-Louis Denis, Andrew Freeman and Marie-Dominique Beaulieu

Chapter 10 in Research Handbook on the Sociology of the Professions, 2025, pp 141-154 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In this chapter, we examine the health workforce crisis from the viewpoint of the situation of professions within contemporary societies. We propose to explore emerging dilemmas within professions in today's world, using family physicians as a revelatory case. An in-depth analysis of 74 semi-structured interviews provided insights on the manifestations of these emerging dilemmas and the implications for the future development of family practice in medicine. The data show that disillusionment or uncertainty at work is the reflection of growing external pressures and demands, a misalignment between the socialization toward a certain professional role and the reality of practice, and changing aspirations of many segments of the profession regarding the balance between work and other dimensions of life. The institutional buffers documented by the sociology of professions to ensure control and autonomy, and consequently an ability to shape practice and working conditions, do not seem to be operating sufficiently to protect the profession from the crisis.

Keywords: Health workforce crisis; Family physicians; Professional ethos; Professional autonomy; Work aspirations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035323074
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