Abstract
Objectives In order to recognise and facilitate the
development of excellent medical doctors (physicians and
residents), it is important to first identify the characteristics
of excellence. Failure to recognising excellence causes
loss of talent, loss of role models and it lowers work ethos.
This causes less than excellent patient care and lack of
commitment to improve the healthcare system.
Design Systematic review performed according to the
Association for Medical Education in Europe guideline.
Information sources We searched Medline, Embase,
Psycinfo, ERIC and CINAHL until 14 March 2022.
Eligibility criteria We included original studies describing
characteristics of excellent medical doctors, using a broad
approach as to what is considered excellence. Assuming
that excellence will be viewed differently depending
on the interplay, and that different perspectives (peers,
supervisors and patients) will add to a complete picture of
the excellent medical doctor, we did not limit this review to
a specific perspective.
Data extraction and synthesis Data extraction and
quality assessment were performed independently by
two researchers. We used the Quality Assessment Tool for
Different Designs for quality assessment.
Results Eleven articles were eligible and described the
characteristics from different perspectives: (1) physicians
on physicians, (2) physicians on residents, (3) patients
on physicians and (4) mixed group (diverse sample of
participants on physicians). The included studies showed
a wide range of characteristics, which could be grouped
into competencies (communication, professionalism and
knowledge), motivation (directed to learning and to patient
care) and personality (flexibility, empathy).
Conclusions In order to define excellence of medical
doctors three clusters seem important: competence,
motivation and personality. This is in line with Renzulli’s
model of gifted behaviour. Our work adds to this model
by specifying the content of these clusters, and as such
provides a basis for definition and recognition of medical
excellence.
development of excellent medical doctors (physicians and
residents), it is important to first identify the characteristics
of excellence. Failure to recognising excellence causes
loss of talent, loss of role models and it lowers work ethos.
This causes less than excellent patient care and lack of
commitment to improve the healthcare system.
Design Systematic review performed according to the
Association for Medical Education in Europe guideline.
Information sources We searched Medline, Embase,
Psycinfo, ERIC and CINAHL until 14 March 2022.
Eligibility criteria We included original studies describing
characteristics of excellent medical doctors, using a broad
approach as to what is considered excellence. Assuming
that excellence will be viewed differently depending
on the interplay, and that different perspectives (peers,
supervisors and patients) will add to a complete picture of
the excellent medical doctor, we did not limit this review to
a specific perspective.
Data extraction and synthesis Data extraction and
quality assessment were performed independently by
two researchers. We used the Quality Assessment Tool for
Different Designs for quality assessment.
Results Eleven articles were eligible and described the
characteristics from different perspectives: (1) physicians
on physicians, (2) physicians on residents, (3) patients
on physicians and (4) mixed group (diverse sample of
participants on physicians). The included studies showed
a wide range of characteristics, which could be grouped
into competencies (communication, professionalism and
knowledge), motivation (directed to learning and to patient
care) and personality (flexibility, empathy).
Conclusions In order to define excellence of medical
doctors three clusters seem important: competence,
motivation and personality. This is in line with Renzulli’s
model of gifted behaviour. Our work adds to this model
by specifying the content of these clusters, and as such
provides a basis for definition and recognition of medical
excellence.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e065333 |
| Journal | BMJ Open |
| Volume | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
| Externally published | Yes |