Negative faculty role modelling - is it a reflection of deteriorating societal values?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Professionalism Studies

Background:

• Negative faculty role modeling is a growing concern in medical education.
• Its implications on medical professionalism are significant, particularly for students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impacts of negative role modeling on the professionalism of medical students.
• The study is contextualized within Pakistan.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing Constructivist Grounded Theory.
• Data collection through six semi-structured interviews with clinical faculty and three focus group discussions with 22 students.
• Thematic analysis was used to identify core categories.

Main Results:

• Identified three overarching categories: traits of negative role models, impacts of negative role modeling, and factors promoting it.
• Impacts included negative effects on professionalism, emotional consequences, and paradoxical positive effects.
• Deteriorating societal values and institutional/regulatory deficiencies contribute to negative role modeling.

Conclusions:

• Faculty, institutions, and regulatory bodies share responsibility for discouraging negative role modeling.
• Education is crucial for students to recognize, reflect on, and avoid negative behaviors.
• Promoting strong professional values is essential in the absence of a robust societal moral platform.