Examining Health Care Students’ Attitudes toward E-Professionalism

• Published in: American journal of pharmaceutical education Vol. 80; no. 10; p. 169
• Main Authors: Gettig, Jacob P., Noronha, Sandhya, Graneto, John, Obucina, Lillian, Christensen, Kelli J., Fjortoft, Nancy F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 25.12.2016; American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy; American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude; Attitude of Health Personnel; e-professionalism; Education, Dental; Education, Pharmacy; electronic media; Evaluation; Female; health care students; Humans; interdisciplinary; Male; Medical students; Osteopathic Medicine - economics; Physician Assistants - education; Professional Role; Professionalism; Social aspects; Students; Students, Pharmacy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Work ethic; Young Adult; professionalism; e-professionalism; health care students; electronic media; interdisciplinary
• ISSN: 0002-9459; 1553-6467
• DOI: 10.5688/ajpe8010169

Objective. To compare pharmacy, osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, and physician assistant (PA) students’ perceptions of e-professionalism. Methods. A 20-item questionnaire was developed and administered to four cohorts of health care professions students early in their first professional year. The questionnaire contained 16 scenarios in which a hypothetical health care student or professional shared information or content electronically and students were asked to indicate how much they agreed that the scenario represented professional behavior. Results. Ninety-four percent of students completed the questionnaire. More female students were in the pharmacy and PA cohorts. There were statistical differences in students’ perceptions of e-professionalism in five of 16 scenarios. Specific differences were most often between the osteopathic medicine students and the other cohorts. Conclusions. The health care professions students surveyed had similar perceptions of e-professionalism. Of the four cohorts, osteopathic medicine students appeared less conservative in their approach to e-professionalism than the other cohorts.