Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Preclerkship medical students’ perceptions of medical professionalism in the College of Medicine-University of Sharjah: A vision to sustain success in medical education

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Mohamed Elhassan Abdalla 1
. Nihar Ranjan Dash 2
. Sarra Shorbagi 2
. Mohamed H. Ahmed 3

1 College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Medical Education Center, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

2 College of Medicine, University of Sharjah,

3 Department of Medicine and HIV Metabolic Clinic, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Professionalism is an essential theme in both undergraduate and postgraduate
medical education. The current study aimed to assess the preclerkship medical students’ perception
on medical professionalism.
METHODS: A cross‑sectional qualitative study using the critical incident technique was conducted at
the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). An online survey was sent to 300 medical
students  (years 1–3). Participants were asked to describe an official doctor–patient encounter
that they have experienced in a health‑care setting and to highlight the professional behaviors
in that encounter. They were then requested to list the top five characteristics of a professional
doctor. Thirty (10%) medical students responded to the study; only 13 reported real incidents. The
responses were independently reviewed by the authors. The descriptions of the professional attitudes
were grouped according to the six domains of professionalism defined by the American Board of
Internal Medicine (ABIM) Physicians Charter and then plotted against the nine domains of medical
professionalism published in the UAE Consensus Statement.
RESULTS: The most common professional behaviors reported were patience, honesty, respect, and
patient care. The participants addressed all six domains of professionalism described by the ABIM
physicians charter (altruism, accountability, duty , excellence, honor and integrity, and respect for
others) and all the domains of medical professionalism published in the UAE Consensus Statement,
except for “commitment to advocacy” and “commitment to education” domains.
CONCLUSION: Preclerkship medical students had an insight about the professional behaviors
needed from doctors before formal teaching about professionalism in the curriculum.

Keywords

Professionalism
undergraduate
University of Sharjah
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 10, Issue 5
May 2020
Pages 1-8

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