Czech physicians: The impact of cultural change on teachers in a profession.

Abstract

How cultural change impacts teachers in the medical profession was the focus of this study. The purpose was to examine social culture and ways teachers change. Participants were 8 physicians (6 male/2 female) from 8 departments at the 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, CR, who were interviewed to learn how change from a socialist form of communism to a capitalist democracy had impacted teachers training the next generation of doctors who will practice under the new social order. Because of the differences between communism and democracy, participants were asked to discuss how their personal ethics and values have changed and how this is reflected in teaching and medical practice under conditions of on-going social change. This study was qualitative and used grounded theory methodology and constant comparative data analysis. Findings are: pressure to change is extrinsic, intrinsic and reciprocal; it affects all areas of professional practice and teaching; the amount of actual personal change is controlled by the individual; and personal decisions to change are affected by forces from societal change. The conclusions are that change is normal in professional life; and teachers provide a tie to the history and traditions of a profession and promote future growth of the profession.