L E T T E R T O T H E E D I T O R

Teaching and learning professional values: Challenges faced byAsian medical schools

DOI:10.1111/j.1758-5872.2010.00100.x

Bhugra and Gupta (2010) have succinctly discussed

the greatest challenge facing medical educators today,

namely, teaching and learning professional values.

Many medical educators and clinicians will agree that

one of their main challenges is imparting and preser-

ving values related to altruism within the profession.

Self interest and self gain have become obstacles to

the ethical and professional practice of medicine and

psychiatry.

The overemphasis on clinically relevant knowledge

and skills in many Asian medical schools detracts from

the teaching and learning of the so called ‘soft skills’

which include interpersonal relating and communica-

tion skills which are essential in the professional prac-

tice of medicine. More needs to be done to cultivate

Emotional Intelligence (EI) as elucidated by the

authors. The awareness that to be a doctor is a calling

to be a healer is a concept that is often not embraced by

many Asian medical schools. The integration of self

awareness, mindful practice (Epstein, 1999) and rela-

tionship-centred care into medical education (Dobie,

1999) could help address these deficiencies.

The selection process practiced in many Asian

medical schools, often influenced by the commerciali-

zation of medical education and political agendas pose

a major challenge to the training of prospective doctors

and are beyond the control of medical educators.

Parental pressure to opt for medicine as a career choice

also has implications on the motivation of future

doctors to become competent and caring healers.

Another challenge is the effectiveness of medical

educators and clinicians as role models to their stu-

dents and trainees. Authoritarian styles of teaching

and governance continue to exist in many Asian

medical schools. Improving on the mentoring systems

and practices currently prevalent in medical institu-

tions will contribute significantly to developing doctors

who are competent and caring healers.

Xavier Vincent Pereira MBBS, M Psych Med

Department of Psychiatry, Melaka Manipal Medical College,

Melaka 71650, Malaysia

References

Bhugra D., Gupta S. (2010) Teaching and learning

professional values. Asia-Pacific Psychiatr. 2, 65–67.

Dobie S. (1999) Viewpoint: reflections on a well- traveled

path: Self-awareness, mindful practice, and relationship-

centered care as foundations for medical education. Acad

Med. 82(4), 321–323.

Epstein R.M. (1999) Mindful practice. JAMA. 282, 833–83.

Asia-Pacific Psychiatry 2 (2010) 225 Copyright c� 2010 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd 225

Asia-Pacific Psychiatry ISSN 1758-5864

Offi cial journal of thePacifi c Rim College of Psychiatrists