Exploring the hidden curriculum of professionalism and medical ethics in a psychiatry emergency department

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the hidden curriculum of professionalism in the emergency department.

Design and methods: This is a qualitative study that consisted of six in-depth semi-structured interviews and a focus group with psychiatry residents of a teaching hospital program about their perception of professionalism in emergency department. A simple content analysis method has been conducted for the extraction of findings.

Findings: Common themes that were detected in the hidden curriculum were "Disregarding the priority of the patients"; "Overriding patient autonomy"; "Non-empathetic care"; "Breaching Confidentiality"; "Injustice in providing care"; and "Dishonesty" PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Professional behaviors are mostly learned through the hidden curriculum. The hidden and formal curricula of professionalism are different in several domains. Paying attention to organizational culture and social environment is critical for promoting professionalism.

Keywords: Emergency; Ethics; Hidden curriculum; Professionalism; Psychiatry.