Chinese medical students reflections on medical professionalism: A qualitative thematic analysis

There is no common medical professionalism framework in China, mandating work to conceptualize professionalism from various perspectives. Studies on students viewpoints about medical professionalism are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how Chinese medical students perceive professionalism to provide a reference for future medical education reform and policy development. Fifty-four written reflections on medical professionalism were collected from first-year students of China 4 + 4 medical education program enrolled in 2020 to 2021 academic years. Essays were subjected to thematic analysis using NVivo 12. Three main themes emerged: inter-personal, intra-personal, and public professionalism. Students emphasized the importance of physician-patient relationships, proficiency of medical knowledge, and enthusiasm for promoting health-related issues. By contrast, teamwork and confidentiality were not considered essential aspects of professionalism. The medical professionalism framework articulated by students in China was roughly the same as in other countries. Where there were differences, these may have been due to the unique sociocultural environment. Future medical professionalism education should be adjusted according to students understanding of professionalism.

Automated summary

There is currently no unified medical professionalism framework in China, and limited research has been done on the perspectives of medical students on this topic. This study aimed to investigate how Chinese medical students perceive professionalism, and to provide guidance for future medical education reform and policy development. The findings revealed three main themes: inter-personal professionalism, intra-personal professionalism, and public professionalism. The students emphasized the importance of physician-patient relationships, proficiency of medical knowledge, and enthusiasm for health-related issues. The medical professionalism framework articulated by Chinese students was similar to that in other countries, with differences possibly attributed to the unique sociocultural environment. Future medical professionalism education should be adjusted according to students' understanding of professionalism.