GEP Medicine in Society Handbook 2019/20

3.1. Professionalism

Medical Professionalism

Aim: to introduce students to the concept of professionalism and what it means in practice in a primary care setting.

Learning outcomes

Students will be able to

• Define professionalism
• Describe the professional attributes and behaviours expected of medical students
• Introduce themselves appropriately to patients they will interview, explaining the purpose of the interview, their role as medical students how the information will be handled, patient options - free to terminate interview, refuse etc.
• Outline their responsibilities as medical students, including reporting pathways within the healthcare environment and at Medical School
• Describe the principles of medical ethics
• Discuss the public perception of medical professionalism
• Discuss the roles of a doctor working in primary care including clinician, business partner, employer, line manager, trainer, clinical commissioner etc.

Preparatory work

Before the placement students will read the GMC guidance for Medical students and familiarise themselves with the Medical School Governance site and its guidance on issues that must be reported to the Medical School.  Please ensure you also review your communication skills teaching on patient-centred interviewing.

Read the GMC guidance on medical ethics and work through some of the scenarios.

Please watch some of the videos on GP careers on the health careers website.

Suggested activities:

Meet GP tutor and community tutor, orientation to placement

Tutorial on medical professionalism, students to present their findings from their readings

Prepare to interview their first patient as medical students, draw up interview schedule, and practice introducing themselves in pairs.

Meet a patient at home or in GP practice and find out how the patient views doctors, explore the factors that influence the patient's level of trust in the medical profession.

Discuss the roles of a GP with GP tutor or other doctors at the practice.

Meet/sit in with other members of the healthcare team and find out what being professional means to them.

Explore the practice area with guidance for the practice team and using the community profile guidance.

Debriefing tutorial.