Is it Mistreatment? Mistreatment Education for Medical Students Entering Clinical Training

Abstract

Abstract Mistreatment in the learning environment is a topic of great concern for medical schools and medical students who wish to train in healthy learning environments. On the 2012 Association of American Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaire, 47.1% of students responded that they had personally experienced some type of mistreatment. The most commonly reported forms of mistreatment included public humiliation, being subjected to offensive remarks, and being asked to perform personal service. Because the particular behaviors constituting these forms of mistreatment are not specified, educators have struggled to teach students how to interpret behaviors in the learning environment. This resource is an interactive workshop for rising clinical students on mistreatment education. The goal of this module is to provide students with a nuanced approach to mistreatment. We focus on the gray areas that often lead students to wonder, “Have I been mistreated?” The scenario scripts are designed to serve as triggers for discussion about mistreatment in clinical settings. The accompanying slide set is used with the scenario scripts to facilitate interaction. The pocket cards help students interpret common situations that may occur during clinical training. These scenario scripts, along with the accompanying slide set and pocket cards, are designed to help students work through the nuanced aspects of mistreatment. The slide set may also be used to raise awareness among residents and faculty about appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.

Keywords

• Medical Students
• Professionalism
• Mistreatment
• Clinical Training
• Professional Ethics