Evaluating the establishment of the national program on regarding of medical residents to the principles of professional ethics at the universities of medical sciences located in the macro educational region number one

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Professional assistants are among the learners whose ability in terms of professional ethics and commitment influences their future performance after graduation so that, as an excellent physician, they can combine patient care with confidence and desirable medical skills. Considering that no comprehensive assessment of the national guideline on regarding of establishment of medical residents to the professional ethics has been published, so far this study aimed to evaluate the activities of medical universities to conduct this program. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the activities of the major medical universities in region one, where had medical residents, during 2015-2018. Information on the formation of committees related to the evaluation of feedback, teaching the basics of professional ethics and how to respond to residents by asking managers of different levels of the university in the Medical Ethics Council, the Vice Chancellor for Education, medical School, department heads and departments Educational and medical centers with assistants. FINDINGS: Four universities of medical sciences (80 of the target population) with 4 faculties, 8 educational hospitals and 8 educational departments were evaluated. The implementation and activities of committees to investigate the professional ethics of assistants in the educational departments and hospitals of different universities has not been exactly in accordance with national guidelines. The hospital committee and the medical school committee have been established in accordance with the national guideline only at one university. None of the universities in the region had a fourth-level university committee. CONCLUSION: This study shows the establishment of a national program of commitment of medical assistants to the principles of professional ethics in the majority of macro medical universities in region one and the attention of different levels of universities, including senior administrators, faculties, educational centers and clinical departments in different dimensions of this program especially training for assistants to commitment to professional principles in these universities. © 2020, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved