Identifying characteristics that students, interns and residents look for in their role models

Objective To identify characteristics which students, interns and residents look for in their role models. Methods A 45-item self-administered questionnaire was sent to a sample (n=9 6, response rate 80%) consisting of three groups: (1) students in years 3-6 of the medical curriculum (n=66); (2) interns (n=17) and (3) residents (n= 13). The questionnaire contained characteristics that participants might us e to describe excellent role models, grouped under five general headings: p ersonality, clinical, research and teaching skills, and community service. Other characteristics mentioned by study subjects were qualitatively analys ed using content analysis. Results Personality and teaching and clinical skills were ranked as the top three factors, and research skills and community service as the least impo rtant factors by 79 (82%) respondents. Qualitative analysis of characterist ics described by respondents for their role models yielded 21 characteristi cs. These were clustered into three main themes: role models as teacher, ph ysician and person. The most frequently mentioned characteristics were pers onal characteristics such as positive, respectful attitudes toward patients and their families, and staff and colleagues; honesty; politeness; enthusi asm; competence, and knowledge. Females rated nine personal characteristics significantly higher than males (P < 0.05). Interns and residents valued t eaching enthusiasm and competence significantly more than students (P=0.01) . Role models had a strong influence on the specialty choice of 53 (55%) re spondents. Conclusion Knowing the characteristics of excellent role models should help medical educators to formulate strategies to recruit, retain and develop t hem. Increasing exposure of a variety of excellent role models to aspiring medical practitioners should be encouraged.