Informing medical student selection into the future: health professional educator perspectives on the characteristics of a ‘good doctor’

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Author(s)
Lombard, Marise
Rogers, Gary David
Poropat, Arthur Eugene
Alldridge, Louise Caroline
Year published
2012
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background
In the debate surrounding medical student selection in Australia and abroad, the
contributions of stakeholders (and of patients in particular) have been limited. A pilot
study was undertaken as part of a PeArL session at the 2011 ANZAHPE conference.
The views and experiences of health professional educators were sought to inform further investigation with other stakeholders.
Methods of Research
The session was recorded with participant consent and the transcript analysed utilising a phenomenological methodology in the NVivo program.
Results of Research
Participants described their experience of the conflict between ...
View more >Background In the debate surrounding medical student selection in Australia and abroad, the contributions of stakeholders (and of patients in particular) have been limited. A pilot study was undertaken as part of a PeArL session at the 2011 ANZAHPE conference. The views and experiences of health professional educators were sought to inform further investigation with other stakeholders. Methods of Research The session was recorded with participant consent and the transcript analysed utilising a phenomenological methodology in the NVivo program. Results of Research Participants described their experience of the conflict between the characteristics valued by different stakeholders with whom they had interacted, leading to complexity in devising selection methods. They described encounters with students displaying undesirable characteristics such as dishonesty, apathy and arrogance. They also emphasised their belief that students at either end of the spectrum on some characteristics may be problematic, such as the student who is 'too empathetic' and at risk of burn out. Conclusions Health professional educators vividly described their experience in relation to student selection. Their phenomenological descriptions will inform question schedules for the main study, where the experience of a wider range of stakeholders will be sought.
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View more >Background In the debate surrounding medical student selection in Australia and abroad, the contributions of stakeholders (and of patients in particular) have been limited. A pilot study was undertaken as part of a PeArL session at the 2011 ANZAHPE conference. The views and experiences of health professional educators were sought to inform further investigation with other stakeholders. Methods of Research The session was recorded with participant consent and the transcript analysed utilising a phenomenological methodology in the NVivo program. Results of Research Participants described their experience of the conflict between the characteristics valued by different stakeholders with whom they had interacted, leading to complexity in devising selection methods. They described encounters with students displaying undesirable characteristics such as dishonesty, apathy and arrogance. They also emphasised their belief that students at either end of the spectrum on some characteristics may be problematic, such as the student who is 'too empathetic' and at risk of burn out. Conclusions Health professional educators vividly described their experience in relation to student selection. Their phenomenological descriptions will inform question schedules for the main study, where the experience of a wider range of stakeholders will be sought.
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Conference Title
ANZAHPE 2012 Conference Proceedings and Programme
Publisher URI
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2012. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. For information about this conference please refer to the conference’s website or contact the authors.
Subject
Medicine, Nursing and Health Curriculum and Pedagogy