Unacceptable behaviour towards clinical students: impact and a need for change
Lynley Anderson1, University Of Otago Dunedin 1University Of Otago, Dunedin, Select an option…, New Zealand
Abstract
Unacceptable behaviour towards clinical students: impact and a need for change
Teaching staff consistently receive anecdotal reports from clinical students about negative experiences in their clinical years. Our research, co-designed with students, indicates students experience sexualised behaviour, racism, physical threats, and other unacceptable behaviours. Patients or staff are the primary source of these experiences. Students report they are unsure how to respond and that these experiences impact negatively on their learning and undermine confidence in the institution. Our preliminary data are consistent with international research however previous research has tended to focus on a specific behaviour or health profession, our analysis offers a comprehensive perspective across a spectrum of behaviours impacting a range of health professional programmes.
As a university and as teachers we have duties and obligations to ensure:
1.the welfare and safety of the student;
2.student learning is not negatively impacted;
3.future health professionals are humane and empathetic.
The nature and extent of these unacceptable behaviours amongst our student body are such that urgent action for change is required.
Utilising feminist analysis, we understand the experiences of clinical students as an expression of their position within the hierarchy of health care, and across the dimensions of sex, race and gender.
Our proposed solutions involve implementation of robust and consistent policy, education, and support to effect culture change within the relevant institutions, to commit to a respectful, caring environment that fosters student learning.
Authors: Lynley Anderson (presenter), Jim Ross, Geoff Noller, Dani Aldabe, Katrina Bryant, Aynsley Peterson, Iris Wainiqolo, Ibrahim Al-Busaidi, Paul Kane, Virginia Jones, Sunyoung Ma, Susan Moffat, Joy Rudland
Acknowledgement: Student co-design panel
Biography
Lynley teaches ethics and professional issues to undergraduate and postgraduate health professional students. Previously Head of Department of the Bioethics Centre, Dunedin School of Medicine. She was the Acting Dean, Dunedin School of Medicine for 7 months and is now Deputy Dean. Lynley was a founding co-editor of the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry and of the New Zealand Bioethics Journal. She has also chaired the Ethics Committee of the NZs Health Research Council. She is the PI on research into unacceptable behaviours experienced by clinical students from patients and staff. She is also researching in the Interprofessional Education space after having been part of a team who have instigated an IPE programme on Professional Ethics for almost 900 first year health professional students in their first month of training. She was also part of the team who developed the national consensus statement for medical student involvement in patient care.