Senses and meanings of medical professionalism for gynecology and obstetrics residents

Abstract

Introduction: Professionalism is an essential condition for the doctor’s performance. The specialty of Gynecology and Obstetrics (GO) has been marked by a growing demand for disciplinary proceedings. Faced with this reality, the American College of Gynecology and Obstetrics (ACOG) recommended recording destructive or hostile behaviors that affect patient safety and the quality of care, remediate them and educate the clinical staff of institutions about it. Despite its importance for the training of future professionals, the lack of consensus about its definition and measurement methods make it difficult to implement targeted actions aimed at this purpose. Objective: This study´s objective was to know the senses and meanings attributed by Gynecology and Obstetrics (GO) residents to medical professionalism. Method: An exploratory, qualitative study was carried out through focal groups with 21 GO residents from Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The analysis of content in the thematic modality supported the data analysis and the interpretation was supported by Symbolic Interactionism. Results: The senses and meanings attributed to professionalism by the residents were expressed in four topics: set of conducts for the benefit of the patient; doctor-patient relationship and relationship with the work team; set of professional attributes; and moral and ethical exercise of the profession. Conclusion: Professionalism is understood as a set of characteristics that include the comprehensive training of the physician, based on skills, scientific knowledge, values, technical skills, clinical reasoning, enabling the exercise of Medicine with respect, morals and ethics.