Teaching professionalism to junior doctors: Experience of a multidisciplinary approach in the Foundation Programme

Abstract

The Foundation Programme curriculum describes 'generic skills' for doctors, which illustrate many of the attributes of medical professionalism. Educators from the Dorset acute trusts have worked with faculty members of the School of Health and Social Care at Bournemouth University to create a course in professionalism for Foundation Programme Year 2 doctors. The course, held away from the hospital setting but facilitated by consultants as well as university staff, has six themes taught on different days: professionalism and judgement, relationship with society, accountability, teamworking and leadership, relationship with patients, and excellence and continuous improvement. The emphasis is on group discussion between the participants, and feedback to the whole group, rather than didactic lecture-based teaching, with the aim of encouraging Foundation Programme doctors to become more reflective in their practice, and to discover their own answers to their queries. © Royal College of Physicians, 2009. All rights reserved.