Narratives from Malaysian Healthcare Workers: A Window into their Community of Practice

Abstract

In Malaysia’s complex healthcare environment, understanding the lived experiences of healthcare workers in a collective manner is vital to addressing challenges in service delivery. To this end, this study examines narratives from healthcare workers in a public hospital in Sabah as a way-in to explore the structure and functions of their Community of Practice (CoP). Narratives, collected through two online focus group discussions with eight participants, were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically to identify recurring patterns and meanings. The research significance lies in demonstrating how storytelling functions as both a mirror and mechanism of a CoP. It makes visible norms and emotional dynamics that underpin collaborative practice. Findings reveal four thematic areas: hierarchical boundary negotiation, mentorship and cultural induction, emotional expression and coping, and identity formation with collective memory. These themes illuminated how members navigate professional hierarchies, introduce newcomers through culturally embedded advice, share emotionally charged experiences for mutual support, and preserve institutional memory through repeated stories. The results show that in a high-pressure, hierarchical healthcare setting, narratives provide crucial emotional and professional scaffolding, strengthening team cohesion and resilience while transmitting context-specific, practice-based knowledge. The study concludes that recognising and facilitating narrative exchange within healthcare CoPs can support workplace cohesion, mitigate burnout, and indirectly improve patient care quality. For the Malaysian context, this approach offers culturally attuned insights into sustaining professional communities amid structural and emotional challenges. Future research should extend narrative-based inquiry across diverse institutions and explore longitudinal changes in narrative repertoires.

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