Pedagogic position of resident physicians as a factor contributing to forming a healthy-oriented lifestyle in patients

Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Chair of Pedagogy and Psychology, Postgraduate Education Faculty, 1197022, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Abstract

The paper describes the features and components of the academic course content and teaching techniques aimed at forming the pedagogic position (a set of pedagogical knowledges, skills, competences, values, and attitudes) of a doctor in young resident physicians. This position contributes to an effective health-oriented lifestyle dissemination and adoption, especially in patients with chronic diseases. It reflects a new perception of physician’s vocational duties, including care for patients’ life and their need for psychological support. Biopsychosocial approach to health and disease was chosen as a conceptual core of the academic course content and methodology design, specially elaborated to unite pedagogical aspects of the physician’s job with the clinical ones. The set of methods aimed at doctor’s pedagogical position formation and development of professional reflection, values and attitudes included lecturing, interviewing, case studies and clinical cases analysis, discussion, questionnaires, brainstorming, trainings and testing. Eighty-six resident physicians were observed within this study. Such components of the pedagogic position as knowledges, skills, attitudes and motivation showed more dynamics, whereas personal traits were seen as a more static and stable component of the pedagogic position in resident physicians. A remarkable divergence of progress was elicited between doctors of various specialties.