Third-year medical students' participation in and perceptions of unprofessional behaviors

Background Students' perceptions of and participation in unprofessional behaviors may change during clinical clerkships. Method Third-year students anonymously reported observation, participation, and perceptions of 27 unprofessional behaviors before and five months after clerkships. Results Student observation (21 of 27) and participation (17 of 27) in unprofessional behaviors increased (P <.05). Students perceived unprofessional behaviors as increasingly appropriate (P <.05 for six behaviors). Participation in unprofessional behaviors was associated with diminished likelihood of perceiving behavior as unprofessional (P <.05 for nine behaviors). Conclusions Student observation and participation in unprofessional behaviors increased during clerkships. Participation in unprofessional behaviors is associated with perceiving these behaviors as acceptable.