What Did Dental Students Learn by Considering the Sanctions for Unprofessional Behavior?

Abstract

 Abstract In the Model Core Curriculum for Dental Education, professionalism is listed as one of the fundamental competencies needed by dentists. However, we have continued trial and error, because there is no academic consensus on teaching and assessing professionalism.

 The purpose of this study was to clarify what dental students learned by considering the sanctions for unprofessional behavior. In the exercise, each student considered the sanctions for the scenarios reported by Brockbank et al., followed by a lecture on professionalism and a group discussion. Then we conducted questionnaire surveys consisting of Likert-scale and free-text questions after practical training. The free texts were analyzed using quantitative content analysis.

 From the co-occurrence network of frequently-occurring words of the free text, the following phrases were extracted : “responsibility for one’s own behavior,” “views of the public,” “student life,” “harsher assessment by lay members,” “awareness of becoming a dentist” and “professional attitude.”

 From the results of this study, it is concluded that this practical training gave the students an opportunity to think about professionalism and the necessity of taking responsibility for their own behavior as medical professionals and showing a positive attitude toward their own future. Education on professionalism should encourage the formation of a professional identity, rather than just a “Do Not” approach.