OCCUPATIONS AND DIGITAL CHALLENGES - A qualitative study about the implementation of digital work methods in dental care

Abstract

Purpose: This research aims to study how a qualified professional occupation experiences the implementation of digitalized work methods in their daily work. More specifically, how dentist professionals respond to the digitalized work methods and identify challenges when implementing digital change in a professional context. Theory: The theoretical framework is based upon the institutional logics perspective. We aim to investigate how the respondents make sense of the organizational change and how these logics are implemented in practice; thus, we are also influenced by the sensemaking perspective. Method: The study takes a qualitative approach, and the empirical data is based on 22 interviews with general dentists and specialist dentists in a Swedish public dental care organization. Result: The result shows that the dentists responded with enthusiasm towards the change; however, skepticism was also prevalent. The study identifies several challenges that dentists encounter during the change process, for example, loss of autonomy and new challenges regarding knowledge sharing and communication. Further, a lack of coherence between the general dentists and specialist dentists was evident and may create tensions as the project progresses. Most respondents viewed this working method to be beneficial for either patients or organizational efficiency or, both.