Professionalism deficiencies in a first-quarter doctor-patient relationship course predict poor clinical performance in medical school.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine whether four types of professionalism deficiencies in medical students identified during a first-year course on doctor-patient relationships might predict poor performance in third-year clerkships.


METHODS
Preceptors identified students who had deficiencies in interviewing patients: extreme shyness, poor process skills, paternalism, or a negative attitude toward interviewing. Deficient students were matched by academic ability to a control group. Performance on third-year clerkships was compared.


RESULTS
Students with paternalistic behavior or negative attitudes had significantly lower third-year grades.


CONCLUSIONS
Professionalism deficiencies that result in the inability of the student to establish patient rapport are detectable early and predict problems in future clinical performance.
Murden
Robert A
RA
Way
David P
DP
Hudson
Andy
A
Westman
Judith A
JA
D001290:Attitude; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D026706:Paternalism; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012577:Schools, Medical; D012792:Shyness; D013337:Students, Medical