Medical students' reflections on surgical educators' professionalism: Contextual nuances in the hidden curriculum

Surgical educators' professional behavior constitutes a hidden curriculum and impacts trainee's professional identity formation. This study explores the nuances of professional behaviors as observed in varying surgical settings.

411 Transcripts originated from essays written by MS3 students during their surgical clerkship from 2010 to 2016 were collated. Employing a qualitative research methodology, we conducted a thematic analysis to uncover specific meaning emerging from medical student reflections' on surgical professionalism.

In clinics, taking time and protecting patient privacy; in the OR, control over emotion during difficult situations and attention to learners; and in the inpatient setting, showing accountability above normal expected behavior were noted as professional. Similarly, unprofessional behaviors in these contexts paralleled lack of these attributes.

Behaviors observed and the attributes of professionalism in the surgical learning environment have contextual nuances. These variations in professionalism can be utilized in deliberate development of professionalism in surgery.