A physician is a medical professional qualified to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness and to manage the overall care of patients across the spectrum of health and disease. The role encompasses clinical assessment, the application of medical knowledge and procedures, communication with patients, and increasingly th…
A physician is a medical professional qualified to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness and to manage the overall care of patients across the spectrum of health and disease. The role encompasses clinical assessment, the application of medical knowledge and procedures, communication with patients, and increasingly the leadership and coordination of healthcare teams and systems. Research relevant to the physician's role examines the skills required to lead and manage clinical staff, including the handling of emotions within the organizational context, and the determinants of physician workload and satisfaction, such as the impact of changes in clinic operations. Studies also address the physician-patient relationship and the communication that shapes it, prescribing behavior and antimicrobial stewardship, the use of clinical tools and decision-making in patient management, and patterns of patient help-seeking across multiple physicians. The historical evolution of medical practice is further explored to illuminate how the physician's role has developed over time. The significance of the physician lies in the central position the profession occupies within healthcare, where clinical competence, judgment, communication, and stewardship of resources directly influence patient outcomes and the functioning of health systems. Understanding the responsibilities, skills, relationships, and working conditions of physicians is essential to improving the quality and safety of care and to supporting a workforce capable of meeting the demands of contemporary medical practice.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 52 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Physician, linking to each citing work.