Discourses of professionalism: Metaphors,theory and practice

Professionalism is a contested concept and different discourses have differed by scope and epistemology. The theory of communicative action integrates epistemology (knowledge interests) with that of scope (lifeworld).

Aim: To pragmatically inform learning of professionalism.

Methods: apply the theory of communicative action to professionalism discourses.

Results: Previous professionalism discourses translated into four frames: technical; communicative; improvement, and critical. These can be viewed as four metaphors the scale; conversation; consensus conference, and protest. The theory of communicative action demonstrated that a critical frame was often lacking from discussions of professionalism and emphasized critiquing the assumptions made, the way power was utilized, and the ends to which actions were directed. Using these frameworks connected discourses on professionalism to other key medical discourses particularly quality improvement, patient centeredness, social justice, and the professional well-being.

Conclusion: The theory of communicative action adds value by introducing criteria for the evaluation of individual truth claims that expands the discussion beyond accuracy to include sincerity, ethics and coherence; and it emphasizes promoting free speech and the inclusion of diverse views and stakeholders. The theory of communicative action provides a coherent and useful framework for viewing professionalism that integrates with broader discussions about philosophy, truth claims, and post-modern society.     

How we make choices and sacrifices in medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In this commentary, we highlight some of the pressing choices and sacrifices we must make in medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic.     

Threshold concepts: A portal into new ways of thinking and practising in psychiatry

Abstract

Introduction: The theory of threshold concepts conjectures that there are areas in every educational curriculum that are challenging; however, mastering these areas transform the learner’s view of the subject. In psychiatry, research into threshold concepts can inform educators so that they can better support students with mastering these challenging areas.

Purpose: To identify threshold concepts, we conducted semi-structured interviews with six psychiatry educators and free-text surveys with medical students. To identify avenues for improving the curriculum, we discussed with educators, ways of improving understanding and looked at different approaches to learning.

Materials and methods: From our analysis of all responses, we derived three threshold concepts: Therapeutic Risk-Taking, the Biopsychosocial Model, and the Concept of Diagnosis in psychiatry. The majority of students experienced difficulties grasping these concepts and applying them in their patient interactions.

Results and conclusions: Hence, we propose focused teaching activities that can help students cross these thresholds: student Balint groups exploring therapeutic risk, student Balint groups exploring the role of a psychiatrist, exposure to psychological therapies/psychotherapy skills and explicit diagnostic reasoning. These activities can be integrated into the undergraduate curriculum to help medical students develop a better understanding and appreciation of psychiatry.     

Wound senescence: A functional link between diabetes and ageing?

Arguably, the two most important causes of pathological healing in the skin are diabetes and ageing. While these factors have historically been considered independent modifiers of the healing process, recent studies suggest that they may be mechanistically linked. The primary contributor to diabetic pathology is hyperglycaemia, which accelerates the production of advanced glycation end products, a characteristic of ageing tissue. Indeed, advanced age also leads to mild hyperglycaemia. Here, we discuss emerging literature that reveals a hitherto unappreciated link between cellular senescence, diabetes and wound repair. Senescent cells cause widespread destruction of normal tissue architecture in ageing and have been shown to be increased in chronic wounds. However, the role of senescence remains controversial, with several studies reporting beneficial effects for transiently induced senescence in wound healing. We recently highlighted a direct role for senescence in diabetic healing pathology, mediated by the senescence receptor, CXCR2. These findings suggest that targeting local tissue senescence may provide a therapeutic strategy applicable to a broad range of chronic wound types.