Ethics and Communication. Does Students' Comfort Addressing: Ethical Issues Vary by Specialty Team?

Journal of General Internal MedicinePublished 1 August 2001Open access

Sarah L. Clever, K. A. Edwards, Chris Feudtner, Clarence H. Braddock

DOI10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016008560.x

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Citations16

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score1.99

SNIP1.71

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TL;DR

Compared to other specialties, medical students felt significantly less comfortable challenging team members about ethical issues on surgery and obstetrics/gynecology, suggesting that ethics education must address the atmosphere on ward teams and give students skills to help them speak out despite their discomfort.

Abstract

Ethics education aims to train physicians to identify and resolve ethical issues. To address ethical concerns, physicians may need to confront each other. We surveyed medical students to determine if their comfort challenging members of their ward teams about ethical issues varies by specialty and what attributes of students and their teams contributed to that comfort. Compared to other specialties, students felt significantly less comfortable challenging team members about ethical issues on surgery and obstetrics/gynecology. We suggest that ethics education must address the atmosphere on ward teams and give students skills to help them speak out despite their discomfort.

Keywords

MedicineHealth Professions

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