Professionalism among medical students at two public sector universities - a comparative study

ABSTRACT

To determine the level of professionalism among undergraduate medical students at two public sector medical colleges of Karachi, Pakistan. This cross sectional study was conducted from August to November 2013 in two medical Universities of Karachi [Dow University of Health Sciences [DUHS] and Jinnah Sindh Medical University [JSMU]]. The validated Professionalism Instrument used in survey forms measured 6 tenets of professionalism [i.e. altruism, accountability, excellence, duty, honor and integrity, respect for others] and exhibited satisfactory reliability measures. The survey forms were pretested and a pilot data collection was performed to check the response and make sure the ease of participants. The study sample comprised of first through final year students of each medical school. The students were asked to fill a structured survey form after verbal information and consent. Only those students were included who were enrolled in the respective medical school and present on the day of survey. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 and Independent sample T-test was applied to compare mean scores of each tenet between the groups. Among 494 respondents [302 from DUHS, 192 from JSMU] the mean score of all six tenets of professionalism turned out to 11.43. There was a slight variation found in each tenet score in first and final year students, most marked being in 'honor and integrity' [Pre-clinical=11.91, Clinical=11.38]. Al-truism [11.44], honor and integrity [11.91] were higher in pre-clinical group whereas students from third to final year were more devoted [11.21], accountable [11.48], and excellent [11.73]. The current level of professionalism among medical students is sub-optimal. To achieve an optimum state, professionalism should be included formally in undergraduate medical curriculum