IDENTIFYING CORE ATTRIBUTES OF PROFESSIONALISM OF MEDICAL

STUDENTS WHICH WOULD INFLUENCE STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT

Endang Lestari*)

Abstract
Background. Professionalism is central to maintaining public’s trust in medical
profession. The role of medical education is essential in preparing future doctors to
recognize and to be aware of issues related to professionalism. Building professionalism
during their study time in medical education is one of possible method to equipped
students with cores attribute of professional behavior of doctor. This study is aimed to
identify the relationship between the core attributes developed during the study in
medical school with the students’ achievement score.
Method. The subjects consisted of students of Sultan Agung Medical School (Unissula),
year entry 2007. The core attributes of professionalism were assessed using short
questionnaire “Professionalism of Medical Student”, which was developed applying
Delphi method by some experts, consisting 26 valid and reliable questions with
Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.884. The relationship between the core attributes of
professionalism and students’ Grade point average (GPA) were analyzed using logistic
regression.
Result. 86.25% (207 out of 240) of students of year entry 2007 participated in this study.
Age and gender were demographic factors which influence students’ GPA (p=0.006; 95%
CI= 1.292 – 4.588 and p=0.000; 95% CI= 1.686 – 5.667). Students’ perceptions on their
own competence (p=0.034; CI= 1.064-4.727), commitment to learning (p=0.013;
CI=1.138-2.969), and self regulation (p=0.005; CI=1.196-2.729) were core attributes of
professionalism which influence students’ GPA. The final model indicated that students’
competence was the dominant factor.
Conclusion. Developing students’ professional behavior during their study time in
medical school would influence students’ learning achievement.

Keywords: core attributes of professionalism, students’ achievement score.

*) Secretary of Medical Education Unit Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Sultan

Agung