Role models for medical students at Medical university-Sofia

Objectives: To analyse the prevalence of role modelling among third and sixth course medical students at Medical faculty - Sofia. Methods: Cross-sectional web-based study was carried out in 2015 at the Department of Social medicine, Faculty of Public Health- Sofia. In the study took part 123 medical students in third course and 134 students in sixth course. Relation between variables was assessed with chi-square test with a significance level of p <0.05. Results: Almost half of the medical students (48.2%) declared not having a role model. From the respondents 49.8% said that negative role models are more common during their medical education. The most valued qualities in the role models were, excellent clinical ability and skilful work with patients". The study found an association between abuse of medical students and negative role modelling. Conclusion: Medical teachers in Medical faculty - Sofia do not always serve as good role models for the students. Positive role modelling should be stimulated through policies against abuse in medical universities and a proper training of the medical educators. Strategies to improve role modelling should be an integral part of the politic of the medical universities for the training of the medical educators (Cruess et al., 2008).