Achieving professional status: Australian podiatrists' perceptions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This paper explores the notion of professional status from the perspective of a sample of Australian podiatrists; how it is experienced, what factors are felt to affect it, and how these are considered to influence professional stand...

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Main Authors: Vernon Wesley, Nancarrow Susan A, Borthwick Alan M, Walker Jeremy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2009-02-01
Series:Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
Online Access:http://www.jfootankleres.com/content/2/1/4
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spelling doaj-b6f58c3c0a984986bd82b13c3a3d3b142020-11-25T00:16:10ZengBMCJournal of Foot and Ankle Research1757-11462009-02-0121410.1186/1757-1146-2-4Achieving professional status: Australian podiatrists' perceptionsVernon WesleyNancarrow Susan ABorthwick Alan MWalker Jeremy<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This paper explores the notion of professional status from the perspective of a sample of Australian podiatrists; how it is experienced, what factors are felt to affect it, and how these are considered to influence professional standing within an evolving healthcare system. Underpinning sociological theory is deployed in order to inform and contextualise the study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were drawn from a series of in-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 21) and focus groups (n = 9) with podiatrists from across four of Australia's eastern states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Australian Capital Territory), resulting in a total of 76 participants. Semi-structured interview schedules sought to explore podiatrist perspectives on a range of features related to professional status within podiatry in Australia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Central to the retention and enhancement of status was felt to be the development of specialist roles and the maintenance of control over key task domains. Key distinctions in private and public sector environments, and in rural and urban settings, were noted and found to reflect differing contexts for status development. Marketing was considered important to image enhancement, as was the cache attached to the status of the universities providing graduate education.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Perceived determinants of professional status broadly matched those identified in the wider sociological literature, most notably credentialism, client status, content and context of work (such as specialisation) and an ideological basis for persuading audiences to acknowledge professional status. In an environment of demographic and workforce change, and the resultant policy demands for healthcare service re-design, enhanced opportunities for specialisation appear evident. Under the current model of professionalism, both role flexibility and uniqueness may prove important.</p> http://www.jfootankleres.com/content/2/1/4
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Vernon Wesley
Nancarrow Susan A
Borthwick Alan M
Walker Jeremy
spellingShingle Vernon Wesley
Nancarrow Susan A
Borthwick Alan M
Walker Jeremy
Achieving professional status: Australian podiatrists' perceptions
Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
author_facet Vernon Wesley
Nancarrow Susan A
Borthwick Alan M
Walker Jeremy
author_sort Vernon Wesley
title Achieving professional status: Australian podiatrists' perceptions
title_short Achieving professional status: Australian podiatrists' perceptions
title_full Achieving professional status: Australian podiatrists' perceptions
title_fullStr Achieving professional status: Australian podiatrists' perceptions
title_full_unstemmed Achieving professional status: Australian podiatrists' perceptions
title_sort achieving professional status: australian podiatrists' perceptions
publisher BMC
series Journal of Foot and Ankle Research
issn 1757-1146
publishDate 2009-02-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This paper explores the notion of professional status from the perspective of a sample of Australian podiatrists; how it is experienced, what factors are felt to affect it, and how these are considered to influence professional standing within an evolving healthcare system. Underpinning sociological theory is deployed in order to inform and contextualise the study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were drawn from a series of in-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 21) and focus groups (n = 9) with podiatrists from across four of Australia's eastern states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Australian Capital Territory), resulting in a total of 76 participants. Semi-structured interview schedules sought to explore podiatrist perspectives on a range of features related to professional status within podiatry in Australia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Central to the retention and enhancement of status was felt to be the development of specialist roles and the maintenance of control over key task domains. Key distinctions in private and public sector environments, and in rural and urban settings, were noted and found to reflect differing contexts for status development. Marketing was considered important to image enhancement, as was the cache attached to the status of the universities providing graduate education.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Perceived determinants of professional status broadly matched those identified in the wider sociological literature, most notably credentialism, client status, content and context of work (such as specialisation) and an ideological basis for persuading audiences to acknowledge professional status. In an environment of demographic and workforce change, and the resultant policy demands for healthcare service re-design, enhanced opportunities for specialisation appear evident. Under the current model of professionalism, both role flexibility and uniqueness may prove important.</p>
url http://www.jfootankleres.com/content/2/1/4
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