Creating a Framework for Medical Professionalism: An Initial Consensus Statement From an Arab Nation.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Ethics
• Cross-Cultural Studies

Background:

• Global focus on medical professionalism lacks non-Western framework applicability.
• Established Western professionalism models may not translate to diverse cultural contexts.
• Need for culturally relevant medical professionalism definitions in the Middle East.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a consensus definition of medical professionalism specific to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• To create a definition reflecting the unique cultural and social constructs of the UAE and the broader Middle East.
• To establish a secular consensus statement encompassing local values relevant to medical professionalism.

Main Methods:

• Purposive sampling of 14 physicians in the UAE.
• Qualitative methods including world café, nominal group technique, and Delphi method.
• Interpretive thematic analysis to derive consensus attributes of medical professionalism.

Main Results:

• Identification of 9 key attributes of medical professionalism.
• Significant overlap with Western definitions, but key differences noted.
• Distinctive aspects include social justice, physician's faith/spirituality, and broader societal expectations.

Conclusions:

• Medical professionalism is a culturally and religiously influenced social construct.
• Local formulation of professionalism definitions is crucial for physician education and assessment.
• Context-specific competencies are essential for effective medical practice in the UAE and Arab region.