Role modelling: a case study in general practice

The effect of role modelling in medical education is frequently mentioned in the literature. This study addresses the issue of role modelling directly through questionnaires to students and interviews with practitioners. A sample of general practitioners taking students on the general practice attachment were asked to identify the attributes of their own role models, and to nominate in turn what attributes they hoped to role model for their students, and students returning from attachment were asked what they wished to emulate in their GP. Analysis of transcripts and questionnaires showed that while GPs mainly remembered personality and teaching ability in their role models, there was congruence between their desire to model good patient relationships to students and students' perceptions that this was the most desirable attribute they saw in GPs. Students also wished to be as skilled and knowledgeable as their GPs. The paper speculates about reasons for the differences and similarities in perception and memory of desirable role model attributes nominated by GPs and by students. It concludes that affect pervades the memory of positive and negative behaviours and attitudes of teachers, and that although role modelling may not be amenable to measurement, its importance in shaping behaviour and attitude and its power to influence students should be acknowledged in developmental programmes for medical teachers.