title: Professionalism in medical education: the development and validation of a survey instrument to assess attitudes toward professionalism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined attitudes toward professionalism in an academic medical center. The paper will describe the development and factorial validity of an instrument to measure attitudes toward professionalism in medical education among students, residents and faculty.
  
  
  METHODS
  A factor analysis of the intercorrelations of responses to 36 items reflecting the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) elements of professionalism for a sample of 765 medical students, residents and faculty was carried out. Data were collected during the spring of 2004. The study was conducted at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA, USA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Main outcome measures include internal consistency reliability estimates (Cronbach's alpha) for each element of professionalism and a principal components analysis of the intercorrelations of responses to the 36 items in the questionnaire. Analysis of responses reveals seven identifiable factors of professionalism: accountability, altruism, duty, enrichment, equity, honor and integrity, and respect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Penn State College of Medicine Professionalism Questionnaire is one of the first valid and reliable surveys of attitudes among medical students, residents, and faculty that reflects seven elements of professionalism.
authors: The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, USA. gblackall@psu.edu
authors: George F
authors: GF
authors: Blackall
authors: Steven A
authors: SA
authors: Melnick
authors: Glenda H
authors: GH
authors: Shoop
authors: John
authors: J
authors: George
authors: Susan M
authors: SM
authors: Lerner
authors: Philip K
authors: PK
authors: Wilson
authors: Richard C
authors: RC
authors: Pees
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Kreher
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004501:Education, Medical; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005178:Faculty; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011361:Professional Competence; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards