The desirable qualities of future doctors – A study of medical student perceptions. (July 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hurwitz, Steven; Kelly, Brian; Powis, David; Smyth, Robyn; Lewin, Terry
• Is Part Of: Medical teacher. Volume 35:Number 7(2013)
• Page Start: e1332
• Page End: e1339
• Publication Date: 2013-07
• Subjects: Medical education -- Periodicals; 610.711
• DOI: 10.3109/0142159X.2013.770130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-159X

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <bold>Background:</bold> There is a lack of consensus regarding the qualities possessed by the ideal doctor, and very limited research regarding the views of medical students on these qualities.</p> <p> <bold>Aims:</bold> To investigate the views of commencing medical students regarding the desirable qualities of doctors.</p> <p> <bold>Methods:</bold> A survey containing a set of proposed desirable qualities of doctors identified from the existing literature was completed by 158 first-year medical students.</p> <p> <bold>Results:</bold> The survey had a 75% response rate. Students rated the individual qualities of empathy, motivation to be a doctor, good verbal communication, ethically sound, integrity and honesty as the most important. A factor analysis identified six categories of qualities: <italic>methodical processing</italic>, <italic>cognitive capacity</italic>, <italic>people skills</italic>, <italic>generic work ethic</italic>, <italic>role certainty</italic> and <italic>warmth</italic>. Significant differences in factor scores were found across subgroups of students (international and domestic students, with and without prior tertiary studies) on the following factors: <italic>methodical processing</italic>, which was scored highest by domestic students with prior tertiary studies, <italic>cognitive capacity</italic>, which was scored highest by domestic students without prior tertiary studies and <italic>generic work ethic</italic>, which was scored highest by international students.</p> <p> <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Medical students identified a range of desirable personal qualities of a doctor which varied according to student characteristics, including their prior educational experience. Future research aiming to define such desirable qualities should include a broader range of stakeholders, including students at different training levels and institutions.</p> </abstract>