Multi-professional ethical competence in healthcare – an ethical practice model

Introduction The starting point is that ethical competence is the basis for ethical healthcare practices and quality of care. Simultaneously, there is a need for research and development from a holistic multi-professional perspective. Aim The aim is to create a proposed model for multi-professional ethical competence grounded in clarified meanings and dimensions of ethical competence studied from a multi-professional healthcare perspective. The research questions are, what is ethical competence from a multi-professional healthcare perspective and what strengthens a multi-professional ethical healthcare practice? Research design The research has a qualitative approach and hermeneutic application research design. Two groups with six participants from clinical practice and two scientific researchers in each group met four times for dialogue. Thematic analysis was used as an analysis method. Ethical considerations The research is approved by the Declaration of Helsinki, the General Data Protection Regulations, and ethical permission was asked from the Norwegian Centre for Research Data (NSD). Results The proposed model for multi-professional ethical competence encompasses a three-dimensional ethical value base that is underpinned by: Ethical attitude – a personal desire to do good; Ethical basis – the best for the patient as a common goal and Ethical culture – common goals and values in the organization. Multi-professional ethical competence is strengthened by: Reflection – to see with new wondering eyes; Time for talk – interdisciplinary teamwork and Leadership – an ethical role model and support. Discussion Ethical competence has a strong link to the core of caring ethics and a deeper personal value base and attitude. Ethical competence involves the whole culture and is seen as a shared value base and a responsibility to do the best for the patient as a multi-professional team and organization. Ethical competence becomes active in healthcare practice by opening up for meaningful multi-professional talks and reflections.publishedVersio

Leader as maintainer of multi-professional ethical competence in healthcare practice

Ethical competence is a core competence in healthcare, and healthcare leaders have a key position when it comes to maintaining professionals’ ethical competence. This study aims to broaden the understanding of leaders as maintainers of ethical competence in healthcare practice seen from a multi-professional perspective. The methodology for data collection was hermeneutic application research and hermeneutic dialogues in which participated 14 informants with different professional backgrounds at a university hospital and three researchers from a university in Norway. Thematic analysis was used as a data analysis method.The thematic analysis resulted in three themes: Creating a culture with common ethical values, Leading with clarity and supporting ethical acting, and Focusing on the patient and quality of life. The leader’s ethical character and passion to create care cultures based on common ethical values and actions, and where the focus is on the patient and quality of life maintain multiprofessional ethical competence