Concept analysis of dispositional humility in professionals and expanding the understanding of the concept in a multidisciplinary primary care environment: A mixed methods study
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2018Dispositional humility of healthcare professionals balances self-centered occupational drive and the needs of other professionals, and may contribute to effective collaboration. After the concept of dispositional humility was analyzed by a literature review, a study surveying dispositional profiles and attitudes toward integrative medicine was conducted among primary care professionals working in interdisciplinary community-based healthcare clinics. In this exploratory sequential mixed method design study, the initial phase of quantitative survey was followed up by the qualitative study of individual interviews which was analyzed by directed content analysis. It was observed that the: 1) honesty-humility trait (p<0.01), conscientiousness (p<0.01), and openness (p<0.05) of primary care clinicians were statistically significantly higher than the reference norms of collage students; 2) attitudes toward integrative medicine were not different among the three different clinician types with different professional healthcare training backgrounds and credentials (MD/DO, NP, ND); and 3) the summative coding counted themes such as 'patient-centeredness' (other-oriented rather than self-oriented), 'humility', and 'trust', that were considered as attributes of dispositional humility. The directed content analysis identified the dynamic elements of the concept map of dispositional humility, which theoretically connected to functional collaboration among professionals. Dispositional humility allows clinicians to have an accurate self-assessment, be open to new ideas, appreciate the contribution of others, and develop generosity. Dispositional humility in leaders can facilitate character development of team members and create an environment characterized by fairness and equality, transparency, non-punitive consequences for reporting errors and near-misses, and a safe and encouraging environment for performing work. However, dispositional humility must be nurtured and developed through professional training because high educational attainment, career and financial success, and busy schedules may lead to a sense of self-importance and entitlement that can promote separation of team members into hierarchies based on professional disciplines and specialties. To maintain high quality patient care while working as a team, limiting self-interest while focusing on the needs of others may be necessary and in the best interest of patients. People who display high levels of honesty-humility as well as conscientiousness tend to place trust in other people and act themselves as trustworthy individuals
