title: Defiance, compliance, or alliance? How we developed a medical professionalism curriculum that deliberately connects to cultural context.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the age of globalization, non-Western medical educators seem too eager to conform to Western educational approaches and may, thereby, undermine the pursuit of local curricular needs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a medical professionalism curriculum that explicitly considered local cultural needs and social expectations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a systematic six-step approach to develop the curriculum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We engaged local stakeholders (physicians, allied health professionals, and members of the public) in a nominal group process to identify professionalism competencies. Students and faculty participated in a survey and/or focus groups to determine learner/faculty needs. Teachers drafted goals and objectives related to locally valued competencies. We designed and implemented educational strategies to develop students' competencies that meet local societal expectations, such as involving family members in decision making. We plan to use multi-source feedback and a portfolio to assess students, which reinforces a definition of integrity that encompasses not only congruence between individual values and behaviors, but also achieving harmony among all stakeholders. We plan to reinforce the formal curriculum with faculty development and attention to the hidden curriculum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based upon our experience and reflection, we offer some practical methods for integrating local cultural values and societal needs in professionalism education.
authors: National Taiwan University Hospital, and Department of Social Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Shih-Li
authors: SL
authors: Tsai
authors: Ming-Jung
authors: MJ
authors: Ho
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Hirsh
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Kern
mesh_terms: D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006801:Humans; D011361:Professional Competence; D024382:Professional Role; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D013624:Taiwan