Structured framework for teaching professionalism to medical students

Abstract

Professionalism among medical students has been identified as one of the core competencies expected of a medical graduate. Acknowledging the need to teach professionalism, the formulation of a formal curriculum is a must. The drafted curriculum should extend across all the professional year, including internship and should specify the topics to be covered in each professional year, hours of teaching, teaching-learning method and the preferable mode of assessment. However, considering the basic fact that professionalism is more of an attitudinal change, it is vital to accept that formal curriculum will provide a structural framework, but for the better outcomes, it has to be supported by informal teaching. In conclusion, professionalism is an integral component in the development of a medical practitioner and the need of the hour is to resort to a combined formal-informal mode of teaching so that medical students are benefitted in the long run.