Exploring changes in the perception of e-professionalism among medical and dental students: a quantitative cross-sectional study

• Published in: Croatian medical journal 2024-02, Vol.65 (1), p.43-50
• Main Authors: Relić, Danko, Marelić, Marko, Viskić, Joško, Machala Poplašen, Lovela, Majer, Marjeta, Sedak, Kristijan, Vukušić Rukavina, Tea
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dental students; Ethical aspects; Medical students; Professional ethics; Social aspects; Surveys; Telemedicine
• ISSN: 0353-9504; 1332-8166
• DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2024.65.43

To compare e-professionalism perceptions between medical and dental students, focusing on their awareness and understanding of guidelines for developing e-professionalism. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted at the University of Zagreb School of Medicine (UZSM) and School of Dental Medicine (UZSDM) in 2022/2023. Data were gathered through a questionnaire designed specifically for the survey. Of the 646 questionnaires collected, 626 were analyzed, with a response rate of 33.95% for UZSM and 37.83% for UZSDM. Most respondents (71.4%) were female, with a median age of 21. Medical students significantly more frequently considered it unprofessional to publish posts containing photos of patients/clients (96.5% vs 75.1%), endorsements of health products without conflict-of-interest disclosures (60.6% vs 33.0%), and posts describing patient interactions without revealing identifying information (51.7% vs 27.4%). In contrast, dental medicine students more frequently considered it unprofessional to publish posts with swearing or foul language (81.2% vs 67.4%), critical comments about lecturers (68.0% vs 46.9%), and criticisms of course material or the institution (52.3% vs 36.4%). Only 23.2% of students were aware of e-professionalism guidelines, with 37.9% of those familiar with their content. While medical and dental students recognize the importance of e-professionalism, their perceptions have substantial differences. The need for promoting existing guidelines and integrating e-professionalism into curricula is evident. Continuous monitoring and research in this domain are essential to ensure future health care professionals maintain high standards of online professionalism.