Exploring Professionalism Dilemma and Moral Distress through Medical Students’ Eyes

A Mixed-Method Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15469072
AuthorsCordelia Cho (Chinese University of Hong Kong), Wendy Y K Ko (Chinese University of Hong Kong), Olivia M Y Ngan (0000-0002-2258-0806, Chinese University of Hong Kong, corresponding author), Wai‐Tat Wong (0000-0002-7228-9486, Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue17
Pages10487-10487
Publication date2022-08-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph191710487
PMID36078203
OpenAlexW4293168951
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited42

This study aims to understand professionalism dilemmas medical students have experienced during clinical clerkships and the resulting moral distress using an explanatory mixed-method sequential design-an anonymous survey followed by in-depth interviews. A total of 153 students completed and returned the survey, with a response rate of 21.7% (153/706). The top three most frequently occurring dilemmas were the healthcare team answering patients' questions inadequately (27.5%), providing fragmented care to patients (17.6%), and withholding information from a patient who requested it (13.7%). Students felt moderately to severely distressed when they observed a ward mate make sexually inappropriate remarks (81.7%), were pressured by a senior doctor to perform a procedure they did not feel qualified to do (77.1%), and observed a ward mate inappropriately touching a patient, family member, other staff, or student (71.9%). The thematic analysis based on nine in-depth interviews revealed the details of clinicians' unprofessional behaviors towards patients, including verbal abuse, unconsented physical examinations, bias in clinical decisions, students' inaction towards the dilemmas, and students' perceived need for more guidance in applying bioethics and professionalism knowledge. Study findings provide medical educators insights into designing a professional development teaching that equips students with coping skills to deal with professionalism dilemmas

Dilemma · Distress · Epistemology · Ethical dilemma · Moral dilemma · Clinical Psychology · Ethics in Business and Education · Ethics in medical practice · Innovations in Medical Education · Psychology · Social Psychology

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