Self-reflection of Medical Students over Professionalism-A Qualitative Study

It is important for the medical aspirants to get a holistic view of medical profession. This can be achieved through journal writing to bring about reflection on their chosen profession. Reflection in medical education plays an important role to make students realise the attitude, values and responsiveness of medical profession, so that he or she may function appropriately and effectively as a doctor in the community.

24 second-year medical students posted in the Department of Community Medicine in a medical college in Chennai, made reflective journal narrative on professional qualities and roles & responsibilities of a physician in the community. Content analysis was used for qualitative analysis.

From the 24 journal narratives, five themes were developed. They were (1) Why they chose to become a doctor? (2) What do they think are the privileges and responsibilities of the profession? (3) What do they expect from the society? (4) What do they think society expects from them? and (5) What they have to do and give up to meet their own and society's expectation?

Reflective journal narrative by the new medical entrants early in their career gives valuable insights into realising the roles and responsibilities of medical profession.