Questionnaire survey for challenging cases of medical professionalism in Japan

Little information is available on evaluation of medical professionalism among Japanese physicians and on its education in Japanese medical schools.

To assess professionalism and its education in Japan.

We analysed the responses to challenges to professionalism for Japanese residents and physicians, using the Barry Questionnaire, and to survey the extent of education related to professionalism during medical school curricula. The survey was conducted at 14 teaching hospitals in Kyushu and Okinawa, using existing hospital conferences.

We collected data from 175 participants (60 residents and 115 faculty physicians). The most challenging was the sexual harassment scenario, in which 51.4% provided the best or 2nd best answers, followed by the honesty scenario with 69.7% and the confidentiality scenario with 76.0%. Participants were more likely to provide the best or 2nd best responses to the scenarios involving physician impairment (87.4%), conflict of interest (81.1%), and acceptance of gifts (78.3%). Five (3%) participants reported learning experiences about professionalism during the curricula and the median hours for its course work were two hours. Only one resident reported that she was satisfied with these educational sessions.

Many Japanese physicians were unable to provide an acceptable response to challenges to professionalism in several issues and few had received education in professionalism during school curricula. Greater teaching of professionalism is needed in medical education in Japan.