The Meaning and Characteristics of Proactive Health Care Service Among Specialists: Case Study of Specialists in the Northeasternregion of Thailand

Author Information

Sirilawan Padungson, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand
Amaraporn Surakarn, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand
Chatchai Ekpanyaskul, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand

Abstract

Proactive healthcare is expanding in Thailand’s tertiary care system, yet little is known about how such practice shapes physicians’ work experiences. This qualitative intrinsic case study examined how specialist physicians’ engagement in proactive care influences their job characteristics and subjective experience of meaningful work. Five specialists in various medical fields were purposively selected, based on their experience working in tertiary hospitals, having at least two year of proactive care experience across multiple settings, and engaging in multidisciplinary or system-level collaboration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Inductive thematic analysis, guided by Hackman and Oldham’s Job Characteristics Model, was employed to analyze the data, and trustworthiness was confirmed via methodological triangulation and member checking. Findings revealed that proactive practice significantly enhanced three core job dimensions-skill variety, task identity, and task significance-by demanding responsibilities that extend beyond conventional hospital-based clinical duties. Physicians reported developing broader psychosocial competencies, including communication, coordination, network development, and interprofessional collaboration. The experience of meaningful work clearly emerged across four distinct dimensions: developing the professional self, fostering unity with colleagues, serving others, and expressing one’s full professional potential. Following patient journeys across care settings allowed physicians to address barriers to care, improve access for underserved groups, and enhance continuity of care. The study suggests that proactive healthcare fostered a holistic work environment that strengthened patient outcomes and physicians’ sense of purpose. These findings highlight the critical role of organizational psychology principles, specifically job design, organizational conditions, and interprofessional collaboration, in promoting sustained meaningful engagement within Thailand’s evolving healthcare landscape.

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