Development of inventory for polyprofessionalism lapses at the proto-professional stage of health professions education together with recommended responses

Abstract

Aim: To identify behaviours and attitudes that exhibit poor professionalism at the proto-professional stage of undergraduate health professions education, and investigate the extent and nature of agreement by faculty on appropriate responses by undergraduate students in the UK.

Methods: A preliminary inventory of 69 items of behaviour and attitude was derived from literature review and 1-month observation at a UK teaching site. Reference Groups were formed by e-mail solicitation of senior medical educators in the UK and the Dundee Medical School to identify consensus on the relevant items and the appropriate responses.

Results: The multi-stage study generated a preliminary inventory with 42 items and identified clear areas of consensus among faculty on appropriate responses by students to lapses in professionalism.

Conclusions: There is a broad range of consensus on the relevance of more than 40 forms of poor professionalism at the proto-professional undergraduate level and the appropriate responses that students should feel empowered to make to observed lapses. These data will give guidance in the development of e-learning programmes for UK students and to undergraduate Fitness to Practise Committees as they seek consistency in responding to lapses in professionalism by students and teachers at the undergraduate level.

Notes

The inventory is available for use under license from [email protected]