Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Copyright Statement

All rights reserved. This publication is intended for use solely by faculty, students, and staff of Nova Southeastern University. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or later developed, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author or the publisher.

Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Dissertation - NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies

First Advisor

Robin Cooper

Second Advisor

Dustin Berna

Third Advisor

Judith McKay

Keywords

conflict resolution, health information technology, healthcare management, medical personnel, organizational theory, public health

Abstract

The United States healthcare setting is a complex environment fraught with conflict, systemic issues and one of the country’s largest economic burdens. Healthcare Professional's (HCP's) are challenged with assimilating new information caring for patients, often in times of life or death, leaving little room for error. This study explored how physicians experience conflict in the workplace by employing an interpretative phenomenological approach, and through semi-structured, in-depth interviews on the lived experiences of 6 physicians. Power theory, systems theory, and organizational conflict theory were utilized as research revealed design of the healthcare system, lack of communication amongst HCP’s and power of large stakeholders contributes to conflict. Limited data exists on how physicians experience and process conflict and how it impacts workplace and health outcomes. Findings suggest an overhaul of the healthcare system is warranted to standardize healthcare delivery with more emphasis on utilization of health information technology (HIT), collaboration amongst HCP's, educating patient populations to be more participative in their own care, and that a healthcare role known as a nurse or patient care advocate, may be beneficial in improving health outcomes and reducing costs and risk. These findings contribute to the field of conflict analysis by broadening the lens on problems in healthcare because it analyzes conflict from the physician’s perspective. Data may assist in advancing public health policy and approaches to overhauling the healthcare system, adoption of a national HIT infrastructure and lobbying for a universal system of healthcare in the United States, in light of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

Download
To access this thesis/dissertation you must have a valid nova.edu OR mynsu.nova.edu email address and create an account for NSUWorks.

Free My Thesis

If you are the author of this work and would like to grant permission to make it openly accessible to all, please click the Free My Thesis button.

  Contact Author

Share

COinS