VS - Professionalism

Question 1

What is the definition of professionalism?

Answer 1

Medical professionalism signifies a set of values, behaviours and relationships that underpins the trust the public has in doctors

Question 2

What features of behaviour are doctors committed to?

Answer 2

• Integrity
• Compassion
• Altruism
• Continuous improvement
• Excellence
• Working with part of wider healthcare team

Question 3

What are the 6 major themes the RCP identified around professionalism?

Answer 3

CLEAR - T
Careers
Leadership
Education
Appraisal
Research
Teamwork

Question 4

What is reflection, why is it important and what are the types?

Answer 4

A skill, attitude and mental process that involves thinking

Is about standing in a different place and seeing things from another perspective

2 kinds of reflection:

• Reflection in action - takes place in real time, learning ‘on the go’ and being aware of what you do, thinking and making decisions on your feet.
• Reflection on-action - usually takes place after the event and you think back on what you have done/seen/experienced.
• Reflection is important and promotes the higher-order thinking needed for professional practice
• Reflection can increase your self awareness and increase competence

Question 5

Describe the stages of the Gibb’s reflective cycle:

Answer 5

1) Description - what has happened?
2) Feelings - what were you thinking and feeling?
3) Evaluation - what was good and bad about the experience?
4) Analysis - what can you make of the situation?
5) Conclusion - what else could you have done?
6) Action plan - if it arose again what would you do?

Question 6

What are reasons for stress in medical professionals?

Answer 6

• Patients demands
• Excessive workload
• Government directives and repeated re-organisation
• Self-sacrificing/self-critical nature of many doctors
• Lack of support in ill-health
• Lack of locums
• Pressure of being ‘all things to all people’
• De-skilling
• Professional isolation
• Lack of opportunities for family

Question 7

What expectations do students have of role models in medicine?

Answer 7

• Clinically competent
• Effective communicators
• Show respect for others
• Caring
• Good at teaching

Question 8

Why is peer review and reflection important?

Answer 8

• Learn from others
• Stop bad habits
• Focus on your positives and negatives

Question 9

What human right violations can result in poor health?

Answer 9

• harmful traditional practices
• violence against women and children
• torture
• slavery

Question 10

What rights to the public have in terms of their health?

Answer 10

• rigt to information
• right to privacy
• right to freedom from discrimination
• right to participation
• right to food and nutrition
• right to HEALTH

Question 11

What is external and internal accountability?

Answer 11

• accountability = responsibility
• external accountability = GMC carries out EXTERNAL verification of medical schools, they are responsible for ensuring everyone reaches the same standard and are fit to practice
• internal accountability = medical schools must ensure they teach all medical students to the standards they have been set by their external body

Question 12

What is audit and its components?

Answer 12

• audit is an accountability tool
• it is a review of clinical practice activity used to look at current work and plan improvements to services and care
• it can identify learning needs

Stages:

1) compare standards with observed practice
2) review standards
3) implement appropriate changes

Question 13

What is appraisal in medicine and why is it important?

Answer 13

• annual review process that trainee doctors undergo to assess their knowledge and training
• each doctor keeps a RITA (record of in-training assessment) that involves an appraisal meeting to set objectives for the coming year including:
• audit
  research
  skills training
  personal development
• this RITA is then assessed annually