Professional attitudes and behaviors: The "A's and B's" of professionalism

Although professionalism is an elusive concept, it is defined by sets of at titudes and behaviors specific to professions. Further defining and describ ing these professional attitudes and behaviors - the "As and Bs" of profess ionalism - will help academic programs to develop and measure them in their students. The development of professional attitudes and demonstration of p rofessional behaviors are key factors in the practice of pharmaceutical car e and maintenance of pharmacy's status as a trusted and respected professio n. This paper offers definitions of professionalism, professional attitudes and professional behaviors, describes their specific components, identifie s educational impacts upon them, shares ideas on how to foster and measure them, and describe barriers to their development. Most of the paper will di scuss these issues in relation to students in academic programs; where appr opriate, however, the discussion will also involve faculty members and othe r personnel.