Abstract

A qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of the physicians who may perceive their professional integrity challenged by and in conflict with patient autonomy and patient consumerism. A sample of fifteen physicians was drawn from a population of physicians practicing medicine in the central Tennessee area for the last 5 years or more. Open ended one-on-one interview questions revealed a rich data on personal lived experience that was analyzed using Modified van Kaam approach by Moustakas. A subjective interpretation of the data identified an emergence of five main themes. Those themes were (1) autonomy of patients must be acknowledged, (2) consumeristic behavior of patients in healthcare market was increasing, (3) physicians#x2019; roles are evolving in response to demands of consumerist patients, (4) physicians expressed dissatisfaction with burdens associated with evolving roles, and (5) increased burdens have created conflicts in physician-patient relationship.