Self-reported assessment by medical students and interns of unprofessional practice.
BACKGROUND
Medical trainees should learn appropriate professional attitudes requisite for practicing medicine.


OBJECTIVE
Describe self-reported assessment of medical students and interns of unprofessional practice.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 88 participants (65 senior students and 23 interns) using self-administered questionnaire of 6 clinical and academic scenarios portraying a fictitious doctor engaged in unprofessional practice.


RESULTS
Eighty-one (92.1 percent) participants believed professional misconduct is wrong, particularly failure to consult a specialist, disrespect to patients' autonomy, and research fraud. Seventy-three (83 percent) respondents would not perform these activities. There were no significant differences in responses by gender or year of study. Women and students, respectively, were significantly more lenient than men (p =.001) and interns (p =.002) regarding penalties appropriate for unprofessional behavior. Sixty-four (72.7 percent) participants would take action if colleagues failed to achieve professional standards.


CONCLUSIONS
Perceptions of professional misconduct are not different in United Arab Emirates medical undergraduates from those observed elsewhere.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. rizk.diaa@uaeu.ac.ae.
Diaa E E
DE
Rizk
Margaret A
MA
Elzubeir
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D028743:Professional Misconduct / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013337:Students, Medical; D014479:United Arab Emirates