Defining a "Healthy Role-Model" for Medical Schools: Learning Components That Count

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education
• Public Health

Background:

• Medical schools are increasingly focused on developing physicians as healthy role models, aligning with the WHO's health-promoting university initiative.
• A significant gap exists in the literature regarding the specific definition and characteristics of a "healthy role model" within the medical school context.
• This research addresses the need to define "healthy role models" for medical teachers to support the health-promoting university movement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and define the concept of a "healthy role model" for medical teachers.
• To identify the key characteristics that constitute a "healthy role model" in medical education settings.

Main Methods:

• A grounded theory approach was employed, utilizing in-depth interviews and email communications with 48 medical teachers.
• Participants represented diverse health professions education backgrounds from Indonesia, Bangladesh, the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, and the UK.
• Three focus group discussions were conducted with 19 medical students from Indonesia to gather student perspectives.

Main Results:

• Four core categories define a "healthy role model" for medical schools.
• These categories include being "physically, socially, mentally, and spiritually" healthy, internalizing healthy behaviors, promoting healthy lifestyles, and being a lifelong learner.
• Each category encompasses several specific characteristics that contribute to the overall definition.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a framework for defining "healthy role models" for medical teachers, integrating characteristics of healthy individuals and adult learners.
• Cultural factors significantly influence how medical teachers perceive and define a "healthy role model" within their respective institutions.
• These findings offer valuable insights for medical schools aiming to foster a healthier environment and promote well-being among faculty and students.