Physician engagement: a concept analysis

Abstract

Tyrone A Perreira,1,2 Laure Perrier,3 Melissa Prokopy,2 Lina Neves-Mera,2 D David Persaud41Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 2Legal, Policy and Professional Issues, Ontario Hospital Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 3University of Toronto Libraries, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 4School of Health Administration at Dalhousie University, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaAbstract: The term “physician engagement” is used quite frequently, yet it remains poorly defined and measured. The aim of this study is to clarify the term “physician engagement.” This study used an eight step-method for conducting concept analyses created by Walker and Avant. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched on February 14, 2019. No limitations were put on the searches with regard to year or language. Results identify that the term “physician engagement” is regular participation of physicians in (1) deciding how their work is done, (2) making suggestions for improvement, (3) goal setting, (4) planning, and (5) monitoring of their performance in activities targeted at the micro (patient), meso (organization), and/or macro (health system) levels. The antecedents of “physician engagement” include accountability, communication, incentives, interpersonal relations, and opportunity. The results include improved outcomes such as data quality, efficiency, innovation, job satisfaction, patient satisfaction, and performance. Defining physician engagement enables physicians and health care administrators to better appreciate and more accurately measure engagement and understand how to better engage physicians.Keywords: physician, medical, engagement, concept analysis

Keywords

• physician
• medical
• engagement
• concept analysis