Top tips for promoting positive professionalism through medical education

Abstract

Background Professionalism is a requirement across all healthcare disciplines yet remains challenging to teach and difficult to evidence. Professionalism, as a subject matter, is increasingly recognised in undergraduate and postgraduate formal curricula, where historically, it has sat in the hidden curriculum space. The learning of professionalism is often complicated by its association with negative connotations and focus only being given to the topic only when it lapses. Methods The authors have strong medical education interests and experience in the teaching, learning and assessment of professionalism in inter-professional settings. They have used their extensive experience, collaborative work and the current literature to develop practical top tips to promote professionalism in medical education. Results The practical tips offered are supported by current literature and educational theory and aim to support other institutions, educators and clinicians to embed and promote professionalism in a positive, constructive and pedagogical way. Conclusions The learning of professionalism in medical education remains challenging. The practical tips aim to guide educators to consider innovative strategies and modern educational thinking but also cautions readers to challenge preconceived ideas on how this topic is best presented and embedded in curriculums.