Awareness, perceptions, and characteristics of internal medicine residents as role models

Background: Role modelling is an essential component of medical education in which trainees incorporate observed characteristics into their personal behaviour and practice style. Data on residents as role models is limited. There are no previous quantitative studies addressing residents as role models from the resident's perspective. Objective: This study aimed to dissect the awareness, perception, and positive characteristics of internal medicine (IM) residents as role models. Methods: This was a cross sectional study, in which 59 medical students (MS) and 64 IM residents from Medstar Georgetown University Hospital completed a questionnaire on role modelling. Descriptive and comparative analyses between both groups were conducted. Findings: Most participants perceived IM residents as role models, but MS were more likely to report that IM residents lack awareness of their role model status. While MS perceived spending more hours with residents, the residents perceived dedicating more of the time spent together to teaching. Most participants denied previous training in role modelling but expressed interest in receiving formal role modelling training. Most participants reported MS behaviours were modified based on their observations of IM residents; however, while most of these behaviours were positive, there were also negative behaviours reported. Conclusion: There was a discrepancy between perception and awareness of residents as role models. This characterisation of IM residents as role models sets the ground for the design of interventions to increase awareness and create educational interventions aimed to support residents in their teaching role.