Behavioural elements of professionalism: Assessment of a fundamental concept in medical care

Abstract

Background: The Nijmegen Professionalism Scale, an instrument for assessing professional behaviour of general practitioner (GP) trainees, consists of four domains: professional behaviour towards patients, other professionals, society and oneself. The purpose of the instrument is to provide formative feedback.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Nijmegen Professionalism Scale.

Methods: Both GP trainers and their GP trainees participated. Factor analysis was conducted for each domain. Factor structures of trainee and trainer groups were compared. Measure of congruence used was Tucker's phi. Cronbach's α was used to establish reliability.

Results: Factor structures of the instrument used by GP trainers and trainees were similar. Two factors for each domain were found: domain 1, Respecting patient's interests and Professional distance; domain 2, Collaboration skills and Management skills; domain 3, Responsibility and Quality management; and domain 4, Reflection and learning and Dealing with emotions. Congruence measures were substantial (>0.90). Reliability ranged from 0.78 to 0.95.

Conclusion: This study to validate the instrument represents one further step. To construct a sound validity argument, a much broader range of evidence is required. Nevertheless, this study shows that the Nijmegen Professionalism Scale is a reliable tool for assessing professional behaviour.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fred Tromp

FRED TROMP is a researcher at the Department of Postgraduate Training for General Practice, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre. He is currently working on his PhD project on assessing competencies in general practice.

Myrra Vernooij-Dassen

MYRRA VERNOOIJ-DASSEN is a professor in psychosocial aspects of care for frail elderly, senior lecturer at Scientific Institute of Quality of Healthcare (IQ healthcare), coordinator of the Alzheimer Centre of the University Medical Centre Nijmegen and coordinator of qualitative research of the Dutch Research School CARE.

Anneke Kramer

ANNEKE KRAMER is a senior researcher at the Department of Postgraduate Training for General Practice, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre and also works as a GP in Utrecht.

Richard Grol

RICHARD GROL holds a chair on Quality of Care at the Radboud University Nijmegen, a honorary chair at Maastricht University and guest professorships at the University of Louvain, Belgium and Manchester University, UK. He is a director of the Scientific Institute of Quality of Healthcare (IQ healthcare), one of the leading research centres on quality and safety of care in the world.

Ben Bottema

BEN BOTTEMA is a director of the Department of Postgraduate Training for General Practice, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre. He supervises several research projects about education and disease management of asthma and COPD.