PURPOSE: Evaluating the professional attributes of medical students is critical, because medical professionalism is an essential quality of a good doctor. But, few studies have examined the tools for assessing such attributes. This study analyzed factors of medical professionalism in medical students to develop standards that can assess medical professional attributes. METHODS: A total of 1,508 medical students in Korean medical schools or colleges answered a self-assessment survey of medical professionalism elements from 2005 to 2012 that we developed. The survey consisted of core 31 attributes on a 5-point Likert scale. Factor analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 and AMOS version 20.0. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed six factors with total variance of 59.56%. The factors were termed 'empathy and accountability,' 'self-development skills,' 'academic competence,' 'interpersonal skills,' 'high intelligence,' and 'attitude towards oneself and life.' These factors showed statistically significant correlation (0.310~0.663). From the confirmatory factor analysis a six-factor model were appropriate (CFI=0.873, TLI=0.853, RMSEA=0.065). Cronbach-alpha of six factors ranged from 0.718 to 0.864. CONCLUSION: Good doctors need to have not only appropriate standards of medical knowledge but also skills to understand and communicate well with patients, as well as self-management skills, which should not be overlooked in the medical education curriculum. By optimizing the results of this study, a more refined assessment tool of professionalism can be exploited.
Curriculum ; Education, Medical ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Humans ; Schools, Medical ; Self Care ; Self-Assessment ; Students, Medical

PURPOSE: It is very important to consider student's personality, aptitudes, and interest to choose an appropriate major or career. This study explored three overarching topics: Are there difference in vocational interest types by gender? Do students' vocational interest type concur with type related to medicine? Are the results of Strong Interest Inventory useful in student career counseling? METHODS: The subjects were 124 freshmen in Konyang University College of Medicine. The Strong Interest Inventory (Korean version) was used. This were divided into three scales: general occupational themes (GOT), basic interest scales (BIS), and personal style scales (PSS). The data were analyzed by the frequency analysis, chi-square test and t-test. RESULTS: From GOT six interest types, male and female showed significant differences in realistic (t=2.71, p=0.008), artist (t=-3.33, p=0.001), and social (t=-2.08, p=0.039) types. From PSS, the score of work style was below 50 points, it is mean they prefer to work alone, with the ideas, materials rather than work with people. Investigative type was the most frequent type (63.7%) and social type was the least (8.1%). The interest test results were very useful in student career counseling with professors (n=53). The satisfaction survey results showed 58.5% of professors were very satisfied as the data was "helpful in understanding the students," "useful in leading natural conversation (41.5%)," and "helpful in creating rapport (39.6%)." CONCLUSION: Strong vocational interest types explains an individual's career interests, and reflect the characteristics of medical students are. The finding of the study can be used to provide student counseling and developing a tailored student career guidance program.
Aptitude ; Career Choice ; Counseling ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupations ; Students, Medical ; Vocational Guidance ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Faculty/*psychology ; Humans ; *Motivation ; Teaching/*psychology

PURPOSE: The implementation of medical professionalism education and evaluation is a recent trend in medical education. Although many studies on this subject have been performed, they have focused specifically on the level of medical student professionalism the perception gaps between medical students and professors on this topic are unresolved. This study attempts to determine whether such gaps exist. METHODS: Three hundred ninety fourth-year medical students and 250 professors who were randomly selected from 41 medical schools were asked to complete a survey on the level of the professionalism of medical students. Using the 31 core professionalism elements that are required for Korean medical students, students self-assessed their level of professionalism, and the professors evaluated the professionalism level of medical students who were graduating. RESULTS: Of the 31 core elements, significant perception gaps were found in 28 elements. The three domains into which the 31 core elements were divided-professional knowledge, professional skills, and professional attitude-all contained perception gaps, and professors' ratings generally were higher than those of the students, a noteworthy observation CONCLUSION: Medical professors need to encourage their students in elevating their professionalism, and what the faculty think they have taught regarding professionalism may not be fully assimilated by students. Further research is necessary to investigate why such gaps exist.
Education, Medical ; Humans ; Professional Competence ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical

No abstract available.
Learning

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: The implementation of medical professionalism in education and evaluation is a recent trend in medical education. Although many studies on the subject have been carried out, they have generally been not focused specifically on the level of medical student professionalism, and the perception gaps between medical students and professors on this topic remain unresolved. This study attempts to determine whether such gaps exist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred fifty fourth-year medical students and 53 professors who were randomly selected from 41 medical schools were asked to complete a survey on the level of the professionalism of medical students. Using 31 core professionalism elements that are required for Korean medical students, students self-assessed their level of professionalism, and professors evaluated the professionalism level of medical students who were about to graduate. RESULTS: Of the 31 core elements, significant perception gaps were found in 28 elements. The three domains into which the 31 core elements were divided - professional knowledge, professional skills, and professional attitude - all contained perception gaps, and professors' ratings generally were higher than those of the students, a noteworthy observation. CONCLUSIONS: Medical professors need to encourage their students to elevate their professionalism. Furthermore, what the faculty think that they have taught regarding professionalism may not be fully assimilated by students. Therefore, further research is essential to determine the cause of such perceptional differences.
Attitude of Health Personnel ; Data Collection ; *Faculty, Medical ; Humans ; *Perception ; *Professional Competence ; Students, Medical/*psychology

PURPOSE: Problem-Based Learning is an effective teaching and learning method enabling the students to achieve problem solving skills, use information effectively, carry productive intelligence, think creatively, learn teamwork and responsibility. Also, students take the initiative of the class and by learning the method of self-directed learning, it will eventually lead to life time education. The purpose of this study was to develop effective teaching and learning strategy of Problem-Based Learning. METHODS: The study is a case study using investigative method and questionnaires, class observation check list, and teachers' evaluation sheets of the students. The subject of this study was 83 students and 19 tutors of Yonsei University College of Medicine. RESULTS: The characteristics of positive module in Problem-Based Learning are; students show good teamwork during the class, students are motivated and find interest in the subject, the data and materials given to the students is very useful in solving the problem. Most important element of Problem-Based Learning interaction is the number of questions asked by the students and the difficulty of the modules has no relation to the interaction of tutors and students. Students heavily rely on using textbooks during their self-regulated learning. And the elements greatly effecting the learning environment are physical environment and the use of humor in class. CONCLUSION: Tutors and students should use the teaching strategy('C-O-I-Q') and the learning strategy('M-R-I-Q') to facilitate the interaction of tutors and students, activate students' discussion and foster class climate.
Climate ; Education ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Learning* ; Problem Solving ; Problem-Based Learning ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Class climate is defined as the general attitude of instructors and students in class. Analysing the instructor's behavior helps build a desirable class climate and improves academic achievement and class instruction. METHODS: The checklist using a five-point scale and consisting of 28 pairs of contrary adjectives was divided into four categories of creativeness, activeness, precision, and mildness. Two different classes taught by one instructor were studied. There were five supervisors for this study and a simple statistical analysis was done. RESULTS: For the undergraduate class, the observers' assessments showed the lowest overall point in activeness and the highest in mildness. In general, points given by the instructor were higher than the supervisor's and the student's. CONCLUSION: The instructor's perception of the class was more positive than the observers' and the students'. This means that all tested categories need to be improved. One way of dealing with this problem for the instructor is to set up a meeting with the supervisor and design a class climate improvement plan.
Checklist ; Climate* ; Creativity ; Humans ; Organization and Administration*

No abstract available.