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Re lec ion on he esponse o heal hca e p o essionals o he
COVID-19 pandemic p eclinical s uden s iden i y wha hei
p o ession is abou
P e na Aga wal*1, Dalia A Biswas2
1Depa men o Physiology, Go e nmen Ins i u e o Medical Sciences, G ea e Noida 201310, Gau am Buddha Naga , U a P adesh, India.
2Depa men o Physiology, Jawaha lal Neh u Medical College, Da a Meghe Ins i u e o Highe Educa ion & Resea ch (DU), Sawangi (Meghe)
442107, Wa dha, Maha ash a, India
A icle in o Abs ac
In oduc ion
Du ing he COVID-19 pandemic [1], heal hca e
p o essionals demons a ed exempla y dedica ion in
pa ien ca e, esea ch, and adminis a ion, despi e acing
signi ican isks as on line wo ke s [2, 3]. Thei e o s,
which included ensu ing equi able access o heal hca e
esou ces and p o iding ca e o pa ien s wi h a highly
con agious disease, highligh ed he essence o medical
p o essionalism [4]. This pe iod o c isis o e ed
p o ound insigh s in o he challenges and alues inhe en
in heal hca e, p omp ing e lec ion on he esponsibili ies
o medical p o essionals and in luencing medical
educa ion and p ac ice [5].
P eclinical s uden s, hough shielded om di ec hospi al
in ol emen o minimize exposu e, wi nessed he
he oism o heal hca e wo ke s h ough media and
pe sonal expe iences. This exposu e likely in luenced
hei p o essional iden i y, a concep ha e ol es h ough
aining and inco po a es pe sonal, p o essional, and
social dimensions. S uden s abso b hese aspec s no only
om explici cu icula eachings bu also h ough he
Aga wal e al. J Med Edu De . 2025; 18(1): 76-86 Jou nal o Medical Educa ion De elopmen
Backg ound & Objec i e: Medical p o essionalism and iden i y o ma ion a e ypically
lea ned h ough hands-on medical aining and p ac ice. Bu du ing he ea ly COVID–19
pandemic, medical s uden s we e displaced om campus. Howe e , hey could engage wi h he
cha ac e is ics o he p o ession by c i ically obse ing he esponse o heal hca e p o essionals
o he COVID–19 pandemic h ough news, such o he means. and pe sonal expe ience. The
pu pose o his s udy was o explo e i p eclinical s uden s could disce n he co e alues o hei
p o ession in such unusual ci cums ances.
Ma e ials & Me hods: The quali a i e s udy, con en analysis based on he p inciples o
g ounded heo y, was conduc ed om Oc obe 2020 – Janua y 2021, among he p eclinical
s uden s o a medical college in India. A e an online sensi iza ion, hey we e asked o w i e
e lec ion no es. The e lec ion no es o all 28 esponden s we e analysed hema ically using
QDA Mine Li e 2.0.5.
Resul s: The e we e 28 esponden s. An exhaus i e numbe o 15 hemes eme ged om he
analysis o hei e lec ion no es ha encompassed a ious aspec s o he medical p o ession –
anging om good mo al cha ac e a ibu es o a heal hca e p o essional o haza ds o he
p o ession o he s uden s aking p ide in being associa ed wi h i . Wha is iden i ied by a s uden
as being impo an , may be expec ed o be lea ned be e by hem. The e o e, we may expec
hese s uden s o ha e lea ned abou he a ibu es o medical p o essionalism and iden i y
o ma ion, which hey had iden i ied h ough e lec ion, mo e meaning ully when hey joined
back
Conclusion: E en while o campus, s uden s likely con inued o lea n abou hei p o ession.
I is easonable o expec hey may gain a deep unde s anding o hei p o ession upon esuming
hei aining on campus.
Keywo ds: Heal h p o ession, medical p o essionalism, p o essional iden i y o ma ion,
e lec i e hinking, pandemic
*Co esponding au ho :
P e na Aga wal, Depa men o
Physiology, Go e nmen Ins i u e o
Medical Sciences, G ea e Noida –
201312, Gau am Buddha Naga , U a
P adesh, India
Email: d .p e anaaga [email protected]
O iginal A icle
A icle his o y:
Recei ed 23 Ap . 2024
Accep ed 1 Aug. 2025
Published 14 Ap . 2025
How o ci e his a icle:
Aga wal P, Biswas D A. Re lec ion
on he esponse o heal hca e
p o essionals o he COVID-19
pandemic - p eclinical s uden s
iden i y wha hei p o ession is
abou . J Med Edu De . 2025; 18(1):
76-86.
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.76 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
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Volume 17 ¦ Issue 54¦ 2024
p o ession's implici p ac ices [6]. To explo e he impac
o he pandemic on p o essional iden i y o ma ion [7]
among p eclinical s uden s, we conduc ed a p ojec
assessing hei pe cep ions o medical p o essionalism
based on hei obse a ions o in ol emen o heal hca e
p o essionals du ing he pandemic. This analysis seeks o
unde s and how s uden s in e p e he ideals o medical
p o essionalism in he ace o unp eceden ed challenges,
he eby gaining insigh in o hei e ol ing p o essional
iden i y, shaped by bo h ex e nal ole models and in e nal
alues [7]. This explo a ion is c ucial o nu u ing u u e
physicians who embody he e hos o compassiona e and
dedica ed heal hca e deli e y unde all ci cums ances.
Ma e ials & Me hods
Design and se ing(s)
The quali a i e s udy, con en analysis based on he
p inciples o g ounded heo y, was conduc ed om
Oc obe 2020 – Janua y 2021, du ing he lockdown
pe iod in he coun y when he s uden s had been home
and he eaching shi ed o online mode, in he
Depa men Physiology o Jawaha lal Neh u Medical
College, Da a Meghe Ins i u e o Highe Educa ion and
Resea ch (p e iously Da a Meghe Ins i u e o Medical
Sciences) (Deemed o be Uni e si y), Sawangi (Meghe),
Wa dha, Maha ash a, India.
Resea ch Ques ion
Wha ha e he p eclinical s uden s disce ned abou he
medical p o ession conce ning i s co e alues by
obse ing he ole o heal hca e p o essionals du ing he
COVID-19 pandemic?
Resea ch Team
Bo h he au ho s, bo h emales, we e eache s o he
p eclinical s uden s who pa icipa ed in he s udy. One
au ho , P e na Aga wal, has p e iously wo ked on
quali a i e esea ch and ook he lead on da a collec ion
and analysis. The s udy being conduc ed online, i is less
likely ha he s uden s we e o ced o pa icipa e,
ensu ing a mo e olun a y and unbiased esponse a e.
The online o ma likely p o ided s uden s wi h a sense
o anonymi y and com o , allowing hem o exp ess
hei genuine pe cep ions wi hou ea o judgmen o
epe cussions.
Pa icipan s and sampling
The s udy was ca ied ou among he p eclinical s uden s,
o MBBS ba ches 2019 and 2020, s udying in
p o essional yea s i s , I and second, II, aged 17-21
yea s, a e ob aining e hical clea ance om he ins i u e,
ide le e no. DMIMS(DU)/IEC/2020-21/9060 da ed
10/10/2020, and an in o med consen o he pa icipan s
was ob ained. F om among he esponden s, i was
decided o analyse as many e lec ion no es ill no u he
new codes and hemes we e deduced.
Inclusion and Exclusion C i e ia:
All he esponden s we e included in he s udy. Howe e ,
any incomple e e lec ions and anyone no gi ing hei
consen o pa icipa e in he s udy we e excluded.
Tools/Ins umen s
The da a we e collec ed using a Google Fo m sha ed on
he Wha sApp g oups o he s uden s’ i ual class ooms.
Da a collec ion me hods
A i ual mee ing was conduc ed on he Zoom pla o m
o b ie he s uden s abou he pu pose and expec a ions
o he p esen s udy. The discussion ocussed on he
esponse o heal hca e p o essionals owa ds he
pandemic – Ha e you been eading newspape s and
wa ching he ele ision o news abou he COVID-19
pandemic? Ha e you o any o you acquain ances had
any pe sonal expe iences ela ed o i ? Wha ha e you
come o know abou how heal hca e p o essionals a e
dealing wi h i ? Did any pa icula news ca ch you
a en ion? Wha do you unde s and abou he medical
p o ession om i ? How do you ela e you sel o i ? To
p o ide s uden s wi h g ea e cla i y, hey we e
encou aged o sha e hei di e se expe iences and
pe spec i es ega ding he oles o heal hca e
p o essionals du ing he pandemic.
The s uden s we e hen asked o w i e e lec ion no es on
he same and sha e hem h ough a Google Fo m. The
google o m con ained a b ie desc ip ion abou he
con ex and clues o help he s uden s in w i ing he
na a i e.
Da a analysis
Bo h o us (au ho s), sepa a ely, analyzed all he
e lec ion no es/essays hema ically. We assigned codes
o a ious segmen s o he da a, exchanged no es, and
de i ed hemes om codes. We discussed he hemes in
he con ex o expec a ions om a heal hca e
p o essional and how s uden s iden i ied hemsel es wi h
hem. (Table 1 con ains an example o how da a analysis
was done.)
The analysis was done using QDA Mine Li e 2.0.5.
[ DOI: 10.61186/edcj.18.1.76 ] [ Downloaded om edujou nal.zums.ac.i on 2025-10-03 ]
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Table 1. Example o Con en Analysis o he s uden s’ e lec ion no es
Re lec ion Na a i e
Na a i e Ex ac
Code/s
Theme
Wha happened?
Medical p o essionals we e
suddenly h us upon huge
esponsibili y o sa ing
e e yone ca e ing o hei
needs bu wi h ze o
p ecau ions and minimal
payg ade and p o ec ion
‘Medical p o essionals we e
suddenly h us upon huge
esponsibili y…’
‘…sa ing e e yone ca e ing o
hei needs…”
‘…bu wi h ze o p ecau ions and
minimal payg ade and
p o ec ion.’
Sense o esponsibili y
Al uism
Challenges in he medical
p o ession
Sense o esponsibili y  A sense o
esponsibili y and accoun abili y
p e ails in he medical p o ession
Al uism  Medical P o ession calls
o Al uism.
Challenges in he medical p o ession
 Medical P o ession has i s own se
o pe ils.
Sel -sac i ice  Medical P o ession
calls o sel -sac i ice.
Compe ence  Doc o s need o be
‘compe en in hei skills and should
s i e o con inuous imp o emen ’
So wha ?
Though in ha d imes hey a e
e y much app ecia ed. All he
p o essionals wi hou ca ing
abou hemsel es wo king o
wo ld heal h shows ou
con ibu ion and sac i ices.
‘…All he p o essionals wi hou
ca ing abou hemsel es….’
‘…wo king o wo ld heal h…’
‘…shows ou con ibu ion and
sac i ices.’
Sel -sac i ice
Al uism
Sel -sac i ice
Now wha ?
I eally go an idea ha his my
ield isn’ some hing like desk
job ega dless o p esc ip ion
i ’s mo e abou being p epa ed
o any scena io and helping
people h ough i .
‘… his my ield isn’ some hing
like desk job ega dless o
p esc ip ion i ’s mo e abou
being p epa ed o any
scena io…’
‘…helping people h ough i .’
Compe ence
Al uism
Re lexi i y
Re lexi i y was in eg al o ou app oach o ensu e he
eliabili y and dep h o ou hema ic analysis. Au ho PA
has p e iously au ho ed a pape on medical
p o essionalism and au ho DAB is a e y senio
p o esso in he ins i u e. Bo h au ho s augh he
p eclinical s uden s among whom he s udy was ca ied
ou . We engaged in egula discussions o c i ically
examine ou biases and p econcep ions abou medical
p o essionalism and s uden e lec ions. Ou
collabo a i e e lexi i y enabled us o na iga e he
complex na a i es p esen ed by he s uden s, ensu ing
ha ou hema ic de i a ion was exhaus i e and
consis en wi h he a ied expe iences and insigh s hey
sha ed.
Resul s
The e we e 28 esponden s (Table 2) and we included
e lec ion no es o all o hem in he s udy o da a
analysis. The e lec ion no es o he s uden s unde sco ed
hei own empa hy o heal hca e p o essionals. They
iden i ied he challenges and haza ds o he medical
p o ession. They e lec ed a sense o p ide in being
associa ed wi h he p o ession. A he same ime, he
s uden s also iden i ied he sense o du y and se ice
heal hca e p o essionals ha e owa ds socie y. They
showed an unde s anding o he equi emen s o
dedica ion, compe ence, so skills, empa hy, eam spi i ,
sel -sac i ice, leade ship skills, and ha d wo k o he
p ac ice o he p o ession wi h ‘p o essionalism’. They
also iden i ied he go e nmen as an impo an
s akeholde in he heal hca e p o ession. (See appendix).
We iden i ied codes pe aining o hese cha ac e is ics
and de eloped hemes based on hem. All hese hemes
oge he iden i ied he a ious a ibu es o medical
p o essionalism and p o essional iden i y o ma ion, in
gene al [8].
Table 2. Demog aphic de ails o he esponden s (ages 17 - 21
yea s)
Demog aphic de ails
Male
Female
To al
MBBS ba ch 2019/ 2nd
p o essional yea
02
00
02
MBBS ba ch 2020/ 1s
p o essional yea
10
16
26
To al numbe o esponden s
12
16
28
Theme 1. Medical P o ession calls o
Al uism.
S uden s quo ed a ious ins ances as o how he doc o s
dis ega ded hei own in e es s o wo k o he la ge
bene i o he people, and how hey isked hei own li es
o ea ing pa ien s. Responden no. 17, a i s
p o essional yea male s uden obse ed ha ,
“...When he s a came o collec ing samples, people
had di e en , some we e coope a i e and some we e no .
Bu hen oo, no keeping his in mind, hese people did
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Volume 17 ¦ Issue 54¦ 2024
ake all he samples, some ga e swab samples and some
ook apid an igen es . This shows ha he medical
p o essionals in ol ed ga e hei bes e o s hey didn'
disc imina e be ween people … e en a e iolence, non-
coope a ion om people, hey didn' back down.”
Ano he s uden , a second p o essional yea male s uden
(Responden no. 14) exp essed, “… medical p o ession
is he only p o ession whe e he p o essionals a e s ill
doing hei job wi hou much changes in he e wo king
pa e n, OPD s ill a e ull wi h e i ies o pa ien whe e
some unde s and he impo ance o cu en scena io bu
many don' and as a doc o you igno e hose hings and
indulge you sel in ea men o o he s.”
Some s uden s clea ly s a ed ha he medical p o ession
is all abou ‘helping o he s’ (Responden no. 12, a male
s uden o i s p o essional yea ).
And in u n, some s uden s acknowledged ha he same
inspi ed hem ‘ o do hei bes in helping people in need’
(Responden no. 7, a i s p o essional yea emale
s uden ).
Theme 2. Medical P o essionals should ha e
‘good communica ion and o he so skills.’
S uden s men ioned ha doc o s need o ha e good
communica ion and o he so skills while dealing wi h
pa ien s and hei ela i es/ ca e ake s. They s a ed how
he same helps in es ablishing us and unde s anding
be ween hem, and a oid con lic . A i s p o essional
yea emale s uden (Responden no. 3) obse ed ha
“….P ope counselling o amily membe s o COVID-19
pa ien is being done by he doc o s which is e y
impo an ….”
Ano he i s p o essional yea emale s uden
(Responden no. 28) hough ha , “…e ec i e
communica ion amongs doc o and pa ien also he
pa ien ’s amily need o be p ope ly in o med abou he
condi ion o he pa ien ….”
Ano he i s p o essional yea emale s uden no ed
(Responden no. 04) ha “….Majo i y o doc o s ind
hemsel es s uggling o choose igh wo ds when i
comes o communica ing wi h he kins o he pa ien s. A
lo o iolence could be a oided by igh ul exchange o
wo ds.”
A i s p o essional yea male s uden exp essed
(Responden no. 27) ha “…I lea ned ha we need o
i s go o he pa ien hen alk in a good manne , hen
ake he pe mission asking him/he o diagnose o es
e c.”
They men ioned ha hey will be “Wo king owa ds
imp o ing pe sonal communica ion skills;
Unde s anding he impo ance o es ablishing a good
doc o pa ien ela ionship; Being an e ec i e and
esponsible spokespe son o he medical communi y…”
(Responden no.5, a i s p o essional yea emale
s uden ) , and ha “.I would y o es ablish an
unde s anding be ween me and pe son (pa ien )”
(Responden no. 24, a i s p o essional yea male
s uden ).
Theme 3. Doc o s need o be ‘compe en in
hei skills and should s i e o con inuous
imp o emen ’.
S uden s poin ed ou he need o being sound in
knowledge and applica ion, need o esea ch in he ield
and ha ing a scien i ic empe amen . They owed o
inculca e he necessa y skills in hemsel es. One i s
p o essional-yea emale s uden (Responden no. 4)
exp essed ha ,
“Below a e he ollowing hings ha he cu en si ua ion
has made me ealise: De elopmen o a scien i ic
empe amen a an unde g adua e le el and cons an ly
ying o adap he same in day- o-day li e…...”
“The impo ance o esea ch has been b ough up by his
pandemic” was obse ed by esponden no. 9, a i s
p o essional yea emale s uden .
Ano he i s p o ession yea emale s uden ,
(Responden no. 16) s a ed ha “Doc o s ha e no only
wo k on he ea men pa bu also he esea ch pa o
ge he igh accine and o cu e his i us om oo s.”
A i s p o essional yea male s uden (Responden no.
12) said ha “In my u u e p ac ice I will y o make he
bes use o my knowledge.”
Theme 4. Doc o s ough o be ‘empa he ic’
owa ds hei pa ien s.
S uden s pu o h he impo ance o empa hy o he
pa ien s and hei ca e ake s, and hei own commi men
o de eloping he same in hei own beha iou .
“…P ope counselling o amily membe s o COVID-19
pa ien is been done by he doc o s which is e y
impo an . No only by medical ea men bu emo ional
suppo and empa hy is also gi en by doc o s,” was
exp essed by he i s p o essional yea emale s uden
(Responden no.3).
“….since in he co id wa d only he pa ien is allowed o
s ay he amily membe a e always in s ess and panic o
know abou he si ua ion o he pa ien and is always
cu ious o know abou he eco e y s a us o pa ien . So
he e comes he ole o a doc o o in o m abou he
si ua ion o he pa ien and he ea men been gi en o
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hem. This helps o keep hope and ai h on he doc o s.
As hey eel ha hei amily membe is in good hands,”
was obse ed by he esponden no. 28, a i s
p o essional yea emale s uden .
“…and make a good ela ionship o empa hy and espec
o my pa ien s,” was s a ed by esponden no. 11, a i s
p o essional yea emale s uden .
Likewise, esponden no. 24, a i s p o essional yea
male s uden s a ed ha , “...I would y o es ablish an
unde s anding be ween me and pe son…”
Theme 5. Doc o s should uphold ‘in eg i y o
hei cha ac e ’ a all imes.
Some s uden s could iden i y ha doc o s should be
i uous in hei cha ac e . They should be hones ,
dedica ed and should no disc imina e.
Responden no. 12, a i s p o essional yea male s uden
s a ed ha , “…I belie e ha whoe e is a pa o he
heal hca e sys em should be dedica ed and hones o
hei wo k only hen can we de ea such disas e s….”
Responden no. 17, a i s p o essional yea male s uden
obse ed ha “…didn' disc imina e be ween people…”
“People belie e wha doc o s say. I is his us which
we ha e o keep s ong as we, he medical p o essionals
a e he only sou ces o hope o he people and ha ’s he
mos impo an hing we should ha e in ou minds…”,
was exp essed by esponden no. 12, a i s p o essional
yea male s uden .
Theme 6. A sense o esponsibili y and
accoun abili y p e ails in he medical
p o ession.
S uden s unde s ood he esponsibili y doc o s bea on
hei shoulde s. They could ecognise hei being
accoun able o he well-being o hei pa ien s and
heal hca e needs o he socie y in gene al. They said hey
would conduc hemsel es in an app op ia e manne .
“…doc o s ha e a g ea esponsibili y on hei shoulde s
in such imes...” no ed esponden no. 10, a i s
p o essional yea emale s uden .
“…because i 's hei du y…” said esponden no. 7,
ano he i s p o essional yea emale s uden .
“… his p o ession is no o expe imen a ion bu a
planned igh ac ion and decision has o be aken a igh
ime. One mis ake and we could lose he pa ien 's li e.
This pandemic is a lesson…” said esponden no. 16, a
i s p o essional yea emale s uden . She also exp essed
ha , “I am e y inspi ed by he medical p o essionals
du ing pandemic. I has aised a g ea e sense o
esponsibili y wi hin me owa ds he socie y.”
Ano he i s p o essional yea emale s uden ,
esponden no. 4, s a ed ha she would p ac ice medicine
“...keeping in mind how my ac ions could po en ially
ha bou a eeling o dis us among gene al popula ion.”
Theme 7. Medical p o ession is a ‘ eam wo k’.
S uden s ci ed many ins ances whe e hey iden i ied
doc o s/ heal hca e p o essionals wo king as a eam, and
coope a ing wi h each o he . One i s p o essional yea
emale s uden , esponden no. 10, no ed ha ,
“….doc o s who a e al hough no wo king in he co id
hospi als, bu s ill, hey a e sp eading awa eness and
asking people o wea masks and main ain hand hygiene.
No only his, he g oups ha ha e been o med by he
adminis a ion ha has a doc o wi h hem…”
Ano he i s p o essional yea male s uden , esponden
no 12, no ed ha , “…. I ’s no only abou he doc o bu
he c edi goes o he en i e eam o 12 people who
assis ed he doc o and played di e en oles in he lab.”
Simila ly, esponden no 5, ano he i s p o essional
yea emale s uden , obse ed ha , “… hey a e eally
wo king e y ha d o us ........ hey wo k oge he as a
g oup.”
Theme 8. Doc o s should be able o ‘lead and
guide’.
Some s uden s men ioned ha doc o s should be able o
assume leade ship oles:
In his con ex , esponden no. 4, a i s p o essional yea
emale s uden exp essed, “….I ha e ealized he
impo ance o suppo ing leade ship quali ies as a pa
o medical educa ion…”
Theme 9. Doc o s se e he communi y and
pa ien s ‘sense o se ice and du y’.
S uden s iden i ied se ing he communi y as he du y o
heal hca e p o essionals, including hemsel es as
s uden s. Responden no. 11, a i s p o essional yea
emale s uden obse ed, “… he medical p o essionals
and o he people associa ed in any way wi h ea ing and
se ing he people….” Simila ly, esponden no. 7,
ano he i s p o essional yea emale s uden also
iden i ied he wo d ’du y’, saying, “…a e doing his
because i 's hei du y.”Ano he esponden , no. 8, a i s
p o essional yea emale s uden , also used he wo ds
‘se e’ and ‘du y’ while exp essing, “…. Medical
s uden s a e adep a many clinical oles. Allowing hem
o se e…. Should be allowed o ul ill hei du ies as
such.”
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Theme 10. Medical P o ession in ol es a lo
o ‘ha d wo k’.
S uden s clea ly poin ed ou he ha d wo k ha doc o s
pu in:
“…physicians and heal h ca e p o essionals o hei
ha d wo k, hough ulness, and commi men du ing his
challenging ime,” said esponden no.8, a i s
p o essional yea emale s uden . Responden no. 5, a
i s p o essional yea emale s uden , also used he
ph ase ‘ha d wo k’, “…. hey a e eally wo king e y
ha d o us…”
Responden no. 21, a i s p o essional yea male s uden
obse ed, “…I ha e seen doc o s, nu ses wo king in
double digi hou s in PPE o he well-being o diseased
people.” Simila ly, esponden no. 27, also a i s
p o essional yea male s uden no ed,
“...I obse ed ha doc o s a e wo king ound he clock,
hey a e no ha ing p ope ood a ime, Doc o s a e
mo ing wi h co id pa ien s all he ime. They also ha e a
amily bu hey a e eady o se e he pa ien s in his
pandemic si ua ion. As, his disease being a highly
con agious one doc o s need o pu on PPE ki all he
ime, I canno exp ess how hey su oca e...”
Ye ano he esponden , no. 28, a i s p o essional yea
emale s uden obse ed, “…medical p o essionals ha e
been o e wo ked.”
Theme 11. Medical P o ession calls o sel -
sac i ice.
S uden s also ecognized he sel -sac i ice in ol ed in
he p ac ice o heal h ca e.
“Medical p o essionals we e suddenly h us upon huge
esponsibili y o sa ing e e yone ca e ing o hei needs
bu wi h ze o p ecau ions and minimal payg ade and
p o ec ion,” and, “… all he p o essionals wi hou ca ing
abou hemsel es wo king o wo ld heal h shows ou
con ibu ion and sac i ices,” said esponden no. 2, a i s
p o essional yea emale s uden o emphasise ha
doc o s comp omise hei own needs. She also el ha ,
“The medical p o essionals a e doing hei bes o help
people, p o ec ing hem, s aying away om hei amily
o keep hem sa e as well.”
Responden no. 11, a i s p o essional yea emale
s uden said doc o s isked hei won li es o pa ien s’
sake, “...The COVID- 19 Pandemic si ua ion is e y
di icul o e e yone especially he medical
p o essionals and o he people associa ed in any way
wi h ea ing and se ing he people as hey a e isking
hei own li es, s aying away om hei own amilies o
days and mon hs and a e s epping o wa d o help he
socie y wi hou hinking any hing o hei own good.”
Simila ly, esponden no. 26, a i s p o essional yea
male s uden also el “Doc o s ying ha d o sa e li es
by keeping hei (own) li e a s ake.”
Theme 12. Medical P o ession has i s own se
o pe ils.
S uden s iden i ied many si ua ions in ol ing haza ds,
challenges o he heal hca e p o essionals hemsel es,
and how doc o s pu hei du y ahead o hei own
in e es s. They also highligh ed he lacunae in sa e y, and
p o ec ion o heal hca e p o essionals, and e en lack o
adequa e acknowledgemen o hei con ibu ion.
Responden no 3, a i s p o essional yea emale s uden
obse ed doc o s con ac ing he disease om pa ien s,
“…In some cases, doc o s a e also being in ec ed wi h
COVID-19 du ing ea men o pa ien s….”
In he exp ession,“…how he doc o s a e dis espec ed,
e en ha e o ace some physical ha ms by he people in
he socie y whom hey se e….” esponden no. 11, a
i s p o essional yea emale s uden , highligh ed
assaul s, ou o ea , o misin o ma ion, on doc o s.
Responden no. 15, ano he i s p o essional yea
emale, highligh ed o e wo k, need o es , and abuse
o doc o s in he con ex , “….The doc o s need es .
Pa ien s need o ake ha in o conside a ion. A e
wo king 24×7 his is no wha hey expec . I ha e seen
pa ien s ge ing ex emely abusi e owa ds he doc o o
no ea ing hei pa ien e en hough he doc o was
himsel no well…”
Simila ly, esponden no. 17, a i s p o essional yea
male s uden , also iden i ied agg essions agains doc o s,
“…, hey ac ed as i s line o de ence du ing his
pandemic, and e en a e iolence, non-coope a ion
om people, hey didn' back down, and I don' hink
anyone else could ha e done i in his way….”
Likewise, esponden no. 24, also a i s p o essional
yea male s uden s a ed “…People we e a aid o i us
and hey saw medical p o essionals as a connec ion o
i us. Du ing pandemic I wen o pho og aph shop. He
was no welcoming o me in ap on and asked me o lea e
so he e was some ea agains medical p o essionals
which can be ha m ul some imes.”
Responden no. 4, a i s p o essional yea emale s uden
iden i ied ‘impai men o human igh s o doc o s’ in he
exp ession,“….Fu he he imp ope implemen a ion o
laws has impai ed he human igh s o doc o s leading o
mul iple p o es s.” Responden no. 28, a i s
p o essional yea emale s uden iden i ied ‘s igma’
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being associa ed wi h medical pe sonnel and hei
amilies, “...medical p o essionals ha e been
o e wo ked, gene al popula ion usually ies o a oid
hem, medical p o essional amilies no ea ed well and
s igma ized om he po en ial ea o ge ing in ec ed,
s a e heal h ca e p o essionals a e unde paid and
o e wo ked.”
Theme 13. Heal hca e p o ession is i al o
he communi y.
S uden s’ commen s abou he heal hca e p o ession
indica ed hei unde s anding o he i al ole he
p o ession plays in he communi y. Responden no. 8, a
i s p o essional yea emale s uden no ed in his
con ex , “Heal h p o essionals play a cen al and c i ical
ole in imp o ing access and quali y heal h ca e o he
popula ion.” Responden no. 12, a i s p o essional yea
male s uden obse ed how c ucial was he ole o
heal hca e p o essionals in dealing wi h he ‘pandemic’,
a global heal h and li e h ea , “The Medical
p o essionals ha e played a pi o al ole in dealing wi h
he pandemic…” Simila ly, esponden no. 17, ano he
i s p o essional yea male s uden ema ked, “All he
heal hca e wo ke s ha e ac ed as he i s line o de ence
in his pandemic…”
Theme 14: Go e nmen and i s policies play a
pi o al ole in heal hca e.
S uden s unde s and he ole o go e nmen in ensu ing
heal hca e in he communi y. Responden s no. 4, 16, and
22, i s p o essional yea emale s uden s, indica ed
oles o go e nmen in heal hca e ela ed aspec in hei
ema ks,
“…A majo eason o all o he abo e sho comings is a
c ippled heal hca e sys em owing o he disin e es and
dis ega d by he conce ning go e ning au ho i ies.
Una ailabili y o a publicly unded heal h insu ance in
second la ges popula ion o he wo ld is a cause o g ea
conce n, ”, “… many p e en i e measu es we e aken on
la ge scale by go e nmen …”, and “… The medical
a e ni y should ha e aining o epidemics and
pandemic, he go should ha e a special budge o he
same,”, espec i ely.
Theme 15. I is a ma e o p ide!
S uden s ake p ide in being a pa o he heal hca e
sys em. They hold medical p o essionals in high es eem.
Responden no. 8, a i s p o essional yea emale s uden
iden i ied doc o s as ‘he oes’ in he obse a ion,
“…Among he he oes who ha e eme ged om his c isis
a e he heal h ca e p o essionals who ha e isked hei
own heal h o se e hei pa ien s. The na ion is indeb ed
o hem.” She also men ions he na ion being in deb
owa ds heal hca e p o essionals o hei ole in dealing
wi h he pandemic. Responden no. 8, ano he i s
p o essional yea emale s uden ema ked doc o s as
‘wa io s’, “The Medical p o essionals ha e played a
pi o al ole in dealing wi h he pandemic. The on -line
wa io s wi hou ca ing o hei own li es ha e se ed
he communi y and ha e se an example o he
gene a ions o come…”
Discussion
Medical p o essionalism and p o essional
iden i y o ma ion
A good p ac ice o medicine equi es a e y high le el o
e hical and mo al conduc on he pa o i s p o essionals.
Di e en socio-cul u al con ex s may iden i y di e en
a ibu es o he p ac ice ele an o he same. The e o e,
he e is no one s anda d de ini ion o medical
p o essionalism. [9] Howe e , he mo al p inciples ha
desc ibe a good human being a e a easonable minimum
equi emen o a good medical p o essional [10-12].
Also, in any medical educa ion ins i u e, s uden s om
di e en backg ounds come oge he o pu suing hei
p o essional aining. Thei pe sonal s anda ds o e hics
and mo als may be a iable. And he en i onmen o
medical p ac ice may be in s a k con as o he
backg ounds hey had been accus omed o. Bu hey a e
all equi ed o adop good p o essional a ibu es, apa
om lea ning cu icula skills [13]. He e, he o me
emains less clea ly de ined, emains less clea ly augh ,
and e en less clea ly lea ned [14]. Medical
p o essionalism has he e o e emained a di icul opic
o each and lea n. S uden s lea n i in classes as well as
by obse ing and e lec ing on wha goes on a ound
hem. They y o ela e hemsel es o di e en si ua ions
and o m hei own code o conduc . The la e emains
dynamic – i keeps on e ol ing o e he ime he s uden s
spend in he p ac ice o medicine, as a s uden and la e
as a p ac i ione . They o m hei own p o essional
iden i ies bo h wi h espec o hei own indi idual
pe sonali ies and wi h espec o hei lea ning [6, 15].
The o emos s ep in he p ocess is ha he s uden s
clea ly iden i y he a ibu es o good medical
p o essional p ac ice [8].
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Volume 17 ¦ Issue 54¦ 2024
Re lec ion on he COVID–19 pandemic
si ua ion by medical s uden s
The global esponse o heal hca e p o essionals o he
COVID-19 pandemic p esen s an excep ional lea ning
oppo uni y o medical s uden s o g asp he essence o
hei u u e p o ession [4, 5]. As Phase I and Phase II
MBBS s uden s we e in oduced o medicine and
hospi al se ings, hey encoun e ed a unique lea ning
obs acle when asked o obse e he pandemic's impac
om a dis ance [16]. This limi ed hei academic and
expe ien ial unde s anding o medical p ac ice and
p o essional expec a ions. To b idge his gap, s uden s
we e asked wi h e lec ing on heal hca e p o essionals'
oles du ing he pandemic, os e ing a p o essional
pe spec i e on he si ua ion [4, 5]. Despi e being o -si e,
s uden s a en i ely obse ed p o essionals' esponses
ac oss heal hca e deli e y and esea ch ields,
iden i ying key a ibu es o medical p ac ice o in eg a e
upon hei e u n o ac i e lea ning en i onmen s [17].
Focused e lec ion ac s as a co ne s one o mo e
in en ional lea ning o medical p o essionalism,
con ibu ing signi ican ly o s uden s' p o essional
iden i y o ma ion [12, 17, 18]. Analysis o s uden s'
e lec ion no es e ealed a comp ehensi e spec um o
a ibu es associa ed wi h he medical p o ession,
su passing expec a ions. S uden s highligh ed he
signi icance o mo al alues, he p o ession's communi y
impac , and go e nmen al egula ion, demons a ing a
p o ound commi men o hei p o essional g ow h.
No ably, hey ecognized occupa ional haza ds while
exp essing p ide and accoun abili y in hei chosen pa h
[19]. This sense o p ide and esponsibili y con ibu es o
hei sel -es eem and mo i a es hem o excel as high-
achie ing p o essionals. Encou aging s uden s o e lec
on heal hca e p o essionals' pandemic esponses,
he e o e, empowe ed hem o in e nalize essen ial
aspec s o medical p ac ice and alues. These e lec ions
se e as ounda ional elemen s in shaping a u u e
gene a ion o conscien ious and p o icien heal hca e
p o ide s, d i en by a deep unde s anding o hei
p o ession's demands and ewa ds.
Wha o he simila s udies ha e ound:
A li e a u e sea ch e ealed se e al s udies ha ha e
explo ed medical s uden s' p o essional iden i y du ing
COVID-19, al hough wi h di e en objec i es and
me hodologies. These quali a i e s udies used e lec i e
w i ing, g oup discussions, o in e iews o da a
collec ion. Findya ini e al. (2020) [20] s udied 80
e lec ion no es o medical s uden s om di e en
phases o he cou se a hei ins i u e. In he sub hemes
ha hey de i ed, hey clea ly men ioned s uden s el
‘empa hy’ o hei su oundings wi h espec o he
pandemic si ua ion. The s uden s iden i ied hemsel es
wi h he ole o ‘heal h educa o ’ and ‘ ole model’ o he
‘communi y’. Wu h e al. (2021) [21] s udied 467
medical s uden s’ esponses o open-ended and close-
ended ques ions in hei online su ey h ough a
ques ionnai e. In hei sec ion on he Impac o he
COVID-19 pandemic on s uden s’ p o essional iden i y,
hey epo ed s uden s acknowledging ha hey ( he
s uden s) el ha he doc o -pa ien ela ionship he e is
deepe ; he eeling o belonging o he heal h ca e
wo ke s and he ision o hei commi men ; and ha he
si ua ion allowed hem o ealize he impo ance o heal h
ca e p o essionals in ou socie y; eamwo k and
communica ion a e key o good collabo a ion and pa ien
ca e; he impo ance o solida i y among heal h ca e
p o essionals; a lo o kindness and goodwill a e
equi ed; he impo ance o eassu ing a pa ien , o
c ea ing us , o being en i ely conscious o po en ial
s e eo ypes, and how o igh hem; el eassu ed o ha e
chosen hose s udies; ha a doc o can do a b oad ange
o hings, among he many o he obse a ions he au ho s
made in hei s udy. By am, e al (2022) [22] discussed
he e lec ions o 26 s uden s ega ding he ole and
image o a physician ha s uden s de eloped in iew o
he pandemic, among o he hemes. S uden s iden i ied
he p o ession as one ‘in ol ing dange ’. Howe e , hey
‘wan ed hemsel es o be physicians’. And, hey
ecognised he impo ance o ‘e ec i e communica ion’
as physicians. Williams-Yuen e al. (2022) [23]
in e iewed 15 s uden s o medical yea s 1-4 a hei
uni e si y ega ding p o essional iden i y o ma ion in
COVID -19 se ing. One o he hemes, hey iden i ied in
hei da a was ‘Physicians as He oes”. S uden s obse ed
he sac i ices doc o s had o make o be ha expec ed
al uis , he esponsibili y hey always bea , and hei
dange s. Moula e al. (2022) [24] analyzed 648 c ea i e
wo ks along wi h e lec i e w i ing abou hem om
s uden s ac oss he globe. Doc o s ha e ‘social
accoun abili y’, hey ough o be ‘unbiased’, and s uden s
aking ‘p ide’ in he p o ession we e among he hemes
o hei indings ha esona ed wi h ou s. P ade e al.
(2023) [25] analysed 21 semi-s uc u ed in e iews o
medical s uden s s udying in he 8 h and 9 h semes e a
he Uni e si y o Ulm. ‘P o essional Compe ence’,
‘al uism’, ‘empa hy’, ‘good communica ion’, and ‘sense
o esponsibili y’ we e among he aspec s o medical
p o essionalism ha he s uden s iden i ied as impo an .
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Hende son e al. (2023) [26] examined p o essional
iden i y o ma ion as ca alyzed by he COVID-19
pandemic among medical s uden s a wo medical
schools in Ame ica h ough in e iews, wice as hey
ansi ioned om he i s medical p o essional yea o
second one. They ound ha s uden s wan ed o be public
heal h ‘ ole models’, and ha he pandemic p omp ed a
‘ eeling o p ide’ in hem o being a ilia ed o he
heal hca e p o ession. They ound ha s uden s also
ques ioned he ‘sel -sac i ice’ in ol ed in he p o ession.
And ha physicians should ake up leade ship oles by
‘engaging in public heal h and poli ical communica ion’.
Though no exac ly a ma ch o ou s udy’s pe spec i e o
b oadly explo ing he medical s uden s’ ake on he ole
o heal hca e p o essionals du ing he COVID-19
pandemic, he hemes and codes hese au ho s ha e
deduced in hei wo ks a e qui e simila o wha we ha e
ound in ou wo k.
We ecei ed esponses om a ac ion o he p eclinical
s uden s wi h only 28 o hem submi ing e lec i e
w i ing. Reasons o low pa icipa ion may be a ied,
including discom o wi h w i ing, lack o mo i a ion,
in e ne access issues, disin e es , o pe cep ions o
i ual lea ning's ele ance. In e ences d awn om ou
online s udy may no apply o non-pa icipan s.
Howe e , in he ligh o wha o he s udies ha e ound as
ci ed in he discussion abo e, he indings o ou s udy
may no be comple ely non-gene alizable. Ano he
limi a ion may be he i ual mode o da a collec ion:
ace- o- ace discussions and w i ing ypically yield mo e
eliable da a.
Wha we may he eby in e
We may easonably deduce ha he s uden s con inued
hei passi e lea ning o medical p o essionalism and
iden i y o ma ion e en when hey we e o he ield by
analysing he ole o heal hca e p o essionals in he
COVID-19 pandemic. Also, his ac i i y o e lec ion
w i ing i sel may ha e helped hem o app ecia e wha
hei medical p o ession is abou . The ac i i y may also
ha e acili a ed in he p ocess o hei p o essional
iden i y o ma ion while hey we e away om he ac ual
p o essional en i onmen and eaching o he same. We
may expec hem o ha e lea ned hese aspec s mo e
cohe en ly when hey e u ned o hei ins i u e when he
lockdowns we e discon inued.
Conclusion
The p eclinical s uden s we e able o g asp he scope o
hei p o ession e en while being dis an om ac ual
hospi al and academic se ings du ing he pandemic by
c i ically obse ing and analyzing he esponse o
heal hca e p o essionals o COVID-19. Ac i i ies such
as ocused g oup discussions and e lec i e w i ing
appea o ha e been bene icial in his p ocess.
Al hough hese indings a e no gene alizable, hey
suppo he p o ision o emo e lea ning oppo uni ies
and obse a ional lea ning. Medical ins i u es could
bene i om inco po a ing mo e case s udies, e lec i e
w i ing assignmen s, and ocus g oup discussions o
enhance unde s anding o eal-wo ld si ua ions, e en
when di ec clinical exposu e is limi ed. Fu he mo e,
hese ins i u ions could inc ease engagemen wi h local
heal hca e acili ies o o e obse a ional in e nships o
s uden s. Fu u e esea ch ha explo es c oss-cul u al
a ia ions in he unde s anding o medical
p o essionalism and he o ma ion o p o essional
iden i y h ough emo e lea ning, in compa ison o o
hands-on dynamic aining, along wi h longi udinal
ollow-up, could be e y use ul in u he elucida ing
how medical s uden s in e nalize hese co e p o essional
alues.
E hical conside a ions
The s udy was app o ed by he Ins i u ional E hics
Commi ee o DMIMS (DU): DMIMS (DU)/IEC/2020-
21/9060 da ed 10.10.2020
A i icial in elligence u iliza ion o a icle
w i ing
A i icial In elligence (Cha GPT3.5 and 4) was used in
e ising he manusc ip .
Acknowledgmen s
The au ho s a e hank ul o all he s uden s who
pa icipa ed in he s udy and submi ed hei e lec i e
w i ing.
Con lic o in e es s a emen
The au ho s decla e ha hey ha e no con lic o in e es .
Au ho con ibu ions
P e na Aga wal- concep , design, da a acquisi ion,
analysis, in e p e a ion, d a ing and e iewing o
manusc ip , app o al o inal e sion. Dalia A. Biswas:
design, da a acquisi ion, analysis, in e p e a ion, d a ing
and e iewing o manusc ip , app o al o inal e sion.
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