Learning professionalism using creativity and diversity concepts.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Professionalism Studies
• Group Dynamics

Background:

• Professionalism in healthcare is complex, abstract, and context-dependent, posing challenges for teaching and assessment.
• A deficit in professionalism can lead to increased patient risk and legal issues.
• Existing approaches to teaching professionalism may not fully capture its multifaceted nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of group creativity and diversity on students' understanding of professionalism.
• To explore how interdisciplinary collaboration can enhance learning about professionalism in healthcare.
• To propose linking creativity with professionalism to improve educational strategies for healthcare students.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 30 students from various tertiary disciplines.
• Participants engaged with artefacts related to professionalism in gallery or museum settings.
• Learning was assessed through surveys, reflective essays, and semi-structured interviews.

Main Results:

• Students reported enhanced understanding of professionalism and greater appreciation for diverse skills and viewpoints.
• The creative and diverse group activities were found to be engaging and fostered the sharing of different perspectives.
• Key themes identified included intrinsic motivation, diversity, learning about professionalism, and encountered challenges.

Conclusions:

• Empirical evidence suggests that creative and diverse learning environments facilitate deeper student understanding of professionalism.
• This approach, utilizing various forms of creativity, offers a novel educational strategy for healthcare.
• Further research is encouraged to explore the application of group creativity and diversity in healthcare education.