Author/Editor     Klemenc-Ketiš, Zalika; Kersnik, Janko
Title     Using movies to teach professionalism to medical students
Type     članek
Source     BMC Med Educ
Vol. and No.     Letnik 11, št. 1
Publication year     2011
Volume     str. 60
Language     eng
Abstract     Background: Professionalism topics are usually not covered as a separate lesson within formal curriculum, but in subtler and less officially recognized educational activities, which makes them difficult to teach and assess. Interactive methods (e.g. movies) could be efficient teaching methods but are rarely studied. The aims of this study were: 1) to test the relevance and usefulness of movies in teaching professionalism to fourth year medical students and, 2) to assess the impact of this teaching method on students' attitudes towards some professionalism topics. Method: This was an education study with qualitative data analysis in a group of eleven fourth year medical students from the Medical School of University Maribor who attended an elective four month course on professionalism. There were 8 (66.7%) female students in the group. The mean age of the students was 21.9 +/- 0.9 years. The authors used students' written reports and oral presentations as the basis for qualitative analysis using thematic codes. Results: Students recognised the following dimensions in the movie: communication, empathy, doctors' personal interests and palliative care. It also made them think about their attitudes towards their own life, death and dying. Conclusion: The controlled environment of movies successfully enables students to explore their values, beliefs, and attitudes towards features of professionalism without feeling that their personal integrity had been threatened. Interactive teaching methods could become an indispensible aid in teaching professionalism to new generations.
Descriptors     STUDENTS, MEDICAL
EDUCATION, MEDICAL
TEACHING
TEACHING MATERIALS
PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONS
ADULT
FAMILY PRACTICE