Serving as a physician role model for a diverse population of medical learners.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
Medical learners look to role models to better understand the values, attitudes, behaviors, and ethics of the medical profession. This study examined issues related to physicians serving as role models for diverse medical learners.

METHOD:
Between September and November 2000, in-depth semi-structured 30-minute interviews were conducted with 29 highly regarded role models, as judged by medical house officers at two large teaching hospitals in Baltimore, Maryland. Interview transcripts were independently coded and compared for agreement. Content analysis identified several major categories of themes that were examined and conceptually organized.

RESULTS:
The informants identified issues that relate to role modeling for diverse medical learners. Subcategories under the domain of similarity facilitates role modeling included learners prefer role models similar to them, role modeling is easier when the learner resembles the teacher, and minority physicians may be better role models for minority learners. Under the domain role modeling when physician-teachers and learners are different were the subcategories extra effort may be necessary, success promotes and inspires confidence, and role modeling across diversity is an achievable objective that should be pursued. The final domain, approaches to differences between physician-teachers and learners, encompassed embrace diversity, act as a consultant and refer when necessary, and minimize and disregard all differences.

CONCLUSIONS:
The results of this study should draw attention to these issues and may serve as a stimulus for teaching physicians to consider a broader range of options for successful interactions with medical learners who are different from them.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Wright, Scott M (SM); Carrese, Joseph A (JA);

Affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (Acad Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jun; vol 78 (issue 6) : pp 623-8

Dates: Created 2003/06/13; Completed 2003/07/17; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12805043, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Attitude of Health Personnel
Baltimore
Cultural Diversity
Education, Medical - methods
Faculty, Medical
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.

See 100+ related articles.