Unprofessional Online Content By Medical Students
60% of Medical Schools in the US participated in an anonymous electronic survey to assess online posting of unprofessional content by medical students.
Of these schools 60% (47/78) reported incidents of students posting unprofessional online content.
- Sexual-Relational Content. Provocative photographs of students, requesting inappropriate friendships with patients on Facebook
- Negative comments on specific medical schools using profanity or other disparaging language in reference to specific faculty, courses or rotations
- Intoxication or substance abuse, e.g. videos depicting intoxication
- Patient privacy at risk, e.g. blog posts with enough detail that could possibly identify patients.
Only 38% of the respondents reported that they had institutional policies that broadly covers student posted online content. However, most of these policies does not mention online content explicitly.
Certain examples such as comments on certain programs or institutions is hard to call unprofessional because they could fall under the freedom of speech. Also students public behaviors that could be seen as unprofessional during their free time has been present even before the Internet. The Internet can enhance the distribution of these “unprofessional outings” of medical students which gives them an extra responsibility.
An Institutional Policy and educating them about these dangers is vital, what do you think?
Chretien, K., Greysen, S., Chretien, J., & Kind, T. (2009). Online Posting of Unprofessional Content by Medical Students JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 302 (12), 1309-1315 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2009.1387
Science Report » Blog Archive » Unprofessional Online Content By Medical Students
September 24, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
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Tye
September 24, 2009 @ 9:13 pm
Exactly why I shut my facebook down. It wasn’t worth it in the long run to have my private life in the public space once I get out of school and enter the profession in full. Too hard to monitor what pictures are taken of you, who tags you, what type of comments your friends leave and the access people have.
Dr Shock
September 24, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
I try to hold down on personal information on facebook. Facebook is indeed something between friends but your usually not shure who is listening in. Kind regards Dr Shock
Christian Sinclair
October 2, 2009 @ 6:38 am
I was slightly disappointed the article did not highlight the potential good that could come from Web 2.0 tools. It seemed to be somewhat ‘boogey-man’-ish. Look at medical blogs and the exchanging of information and commentary on journal articles like this exact post. They made a few statements about trying to teach about ‘digital footprint’ to medical students which a good first step to help professional conduct.
Medical Schools Sacramento
November 26, 2009 @ 6:51 am
Respected DR.Shock , i simply want to say you doing a great job? its really informative blog and helpful source for medical students thanks for sharing i am going to share with Medical Schools Sacramento..please visit and share your useful comments thanks….