<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This paper explores how general practitioners (GPs) address potentially opposing motivations stemming from being altruistic and self-interested, and the implications for patients and GPs. The author finds that GPs address dual goals of patient care and profit generation. This can be challenging, while professional values (altruism) encourage a patient focus, business realities (self-interest) mandate other priorities. Viewing clinicians as altruistic in isolation of business needs is unrealistic, as is the notion that profit is the dominant motivation. A blending of interests occurs, pursuing reasonable self-interest, patients’ best interests are ultimately met. GPs need a profit focus to sustain/improve the practice, benefitting patients through continued availability and capacity for enhancement. Therefore, it is argued that GPs behave in a manner that is ‘part altruistic, part self-interested’ and mutually beneficial. These insights should be considered in designing incentive systems for GPs, raising compelling questions about contemporary understanding of the nature of professionals.</p></abstract>

This paper explores how general practitioners (GPs) address potentially opposing motivations stemming from being altruistic and self-interested, and the implications for patients and GPs. The author finds that GPs address dual goals of patient care and profit generation. This can be challenging, while professional values (altruism) encourage a patient focus, business realities (self-interest) mandate other priorities. Viewing clinicians as altruistic in isolation of business needs is unrealistic, as is the notion that profit is the dominant motivation. A blending of interests occurs, pursuing reasonable self-interest, patients’ best interests are ultimately met. GPs need a profit focus to sustain/improve the practice, benefitting patients through continued availability and capacity for enhancement. Therefore, it is argued that GPs behave in a manner that is ‘part altruistic, part self-interested’ and mutually beneficial. These insights should be considered in designing incentive systems for GPs, raising compelling questions about contemporary understanding of the nature of professionals.

Balancing altruism and self-interest: GP and patient implications

The Irish Journal of Management

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Balancing altruism and self-interest: GP and patient implications"}

This paper explores how general practitioners (GPs) address potentially opposing motivations stemming from being altruistic and self-interested, and the...

Balancing altruism and self-interest: GP and patient implications

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jan 31, 2019

Page range: 1 - 15

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijm-2018-0001

Keywords
altruism, general practice, professions, qualitative research, self-interest

© 2018 Chris O’Riordan, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Balancing altruism and self-interest: GP and patient implications

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Jan 31, 2019

Page range: 1 - 15

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijm-2018-0001

Keywordsaltruism, general practice, professions, qualitative research, self-interest

© 2018 Chris O’Riordan, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
altruism, general practice, professions, qualitative research, self-interest