Dilemmas of Professional Work: The Case of Family Physicians

In this presentation, we examine the health workforce crisis from the viewpoint of the situation of professions within contemporary societies. We contend that a professional perspective on this crisis is revealing of the profound changes that are taking place today in numerous professional fields. These changes are associated with both the evolving status of professions within societies and the day-to-day experience of professional work. For many decades, despite some variability in status and autonomy, being a professional symbolized personal achievement coupled with a strong vocational commitment to work and to serve patients. Professionals were thus highly valued in many societies and sectors. However, the current lack of attractiveness of many professions, illustrated by labour shortages, turnover, absenteeism, and occupational reconversion suggest a less favourable representation of professions and professional work in societies. We propose in this presentation to explore emerging dilemmas within professions in today's world, using the case of family physicians (FPs) in the province of Québec (Canada) as a revelatory case. This example is particularly interesting as it shows that this phenomenon can be observed even in high-status professions. Our aim is to identify prospects for some desirable evolutions that both reconcile social demands and professional aspirations. Despite the apparent magnitude of the malaise within the community of FPs, which can be extrapolated to several other professions and professionals, little is known about how this crisis is likely to transform professions in a significant way. Our study explores how combining insights from the sociology of the professions and the sociology of work can reveal possibilities for alleviating some tensions and enabling the development of productive coping strategies among the profession.