Student response to reports of unprofessional behavior: assessing risk of subsequent professional problems in medical school.

Background: An early concern note (ECN) program is used by some medical schools to identify, counsel, and intervene when students exhibit unprofessional behavior. Student maturity, insight, propensity for reflection, and receptiveness to feedback have been suggested as predictors of future behavior.

Objective: We hypothesized that (a) classifying students with a first ECN based on their response to the report would identify students at risk of repeat ECNs better than the action that prompted it and (b) receipt of multiple ECNs would identify students at risk of adverse academic events.

Medical student professionalism: are we measuring the right behaviors? A comparison of professional lapses by students and physicians.

Background: Examining the relationship between unprofessional behaviors observed in medical students and those manifested by physicians is important in determining whether medical school faculty are observing and reporting behaviors relevant to medical practice.

Method: This study compares the relationship between unprofessional behaviors identified in students at our medical school through Early Concern Notes, and behaviors for which physicians were sanctioned by our state medical board.

Results: The majority of reports in both groups were related to lapses in professional responsibility and integrity, and the specific behaviors identified in the groups were similar.

Do students do what they write and write what they do? The match between the patient encounter and patient note.

Background: Patient notes are used for a variety of purposes in health care. Medical students are taught the structure of patient notes early in training. Review of patient notes are then used to assess synthesis and integration of patient information.