Gaston Godin talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's New Hot Paper in the field of Social Sciences,
general.
Article Title: Healthcare professionals' intentions and
behaviours: A systematic review of studies based on social
cognitive theories
Authors: Godin, G;Belanger-Gravel, A;Eccles,
M;Grimshaw, J
Journal: IMPLEMENT SCI, Volume: 3, Year: no.-36 JUL 16
2008
* Univ Laval, Canada Res Chair Behav & Hlth, Quebec City,
PQ, Canada.
* Univ Laval, Canada Res Chair Behav & Hlth, Quebec City,
PQ, Canada. (addresses have been
truncated.)
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
I think it is because this is the first systematic review of the
determinants of healthcare professional behavior from the perspective of
social psychology.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
It presents a synthesis of knowledge, analyzes the interplay between the
determinants of healthcare professional behavior, and presents, by means of
a model, the interplay between these determinants.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman's terms?
"If such investigation leads to positive changes in the
clinical practices of healthcare workers, it could have a
major impact on the general health of the population."
This systematic review presents an overview of the factors defining
healthcare professional intention to adopt appropriate practice and the
role of intention in the prediction of behavior. It also presents a summary
of the variability between the type of professional (e.g., nurses,
physicians, other) and a direction for future research on this topic.
How did you become involved in this research, and
were there any problems along the way?
As member of a group of researchers interested in implementation science
and the transfer of knowledge into practice, our main interest is the
investigation of the determinants of healthcare practice from the
perspective of the individual who is the healthcare professional. Given the
lack of information on this topic, we decided to undertake this systematic
review. This was an extension of my field of research concentration during
the past two decades.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
My research program concerns the application of social cognitive theory to
predict adoption of behavior and to use this information in designing
theory-based interventions. This application to healthcare professional
behavior and practice is an extension of this concern. Therefore future
research should move from prediction to intervention evaluation.
Do you foresee any social or political
implications for your research?
If such investigation leads to positive changes in the clinical practices
of healthcare workers, it could have a major impact on the general health
of the population.
Professor Gaston Godin, Ph.D.
Canada Research Chair on Behaviour and Health
Faculty of Nursing
Laval University
Québec City, Québec, Canada
KEYWORDS: PLANNED BEHAVIOR; REASONED ACTION; SUBJECTIVE NORMS; NURSES
INTENTIONS; CLINICAL-PRACTICE; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY; PSYCHOLOGICAL
THEORY; PHYSICIAN INTENTION; HAND HYGIENE; ATTITUDES.
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
