Assessment of medical professionalism: who, what, when, where, how, and ... why?
Medical professionalism is increasingly recognized as a core competence of medical trainees and practitioners. Although the general and specific domains of professionalism are thoroughly characterized, procedures for assessing them are not well-developed. This article outlines an approach to designing and implementing an assessment program for medical professionalism that begins and ends with asking and answering a series of critical questions about the purpose and nature of the program. The process of exposing an assessment program to a series of interrogatives that comprise an integrated and iterative framework for thinking about the assessment process should lead to continued improvement in the quality and defensibility of that program.
Hawkins
Richard E
RE
American Board of Medical Specialties, Evanston, IL 60201, USA. rhawkins@abms.org
Katsufrakis
Peter J
PJ
Holtman
Matthew C
MC
Clauser
Brian E
BE
D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010819:Physician's Role; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*