Swedish physicians' perspectives on work and the medical care system--V. Comparisons across specialties.

Treating medical specialties as segments, Swedish ambulatory care physicians were interviewed to identify their perspectives on work and the medical care system. Those perspectives were analyzed and compared across segments. Physician segments differed substantially in the themes they put forward. Perspectives tended to be homogeneous within segments and sharply differentiated between segments. Both positive and negative perspectives were expressed more with respect to immediate work situations than with respect to the medical care system. Child health and maternal health physicians were more likely to express satisfactions with both work and the system, while district general practitioners were more likely to note problems. It is contended that this study has identified well grounded (valid) categories for the analysis of the Swedish medical care system.