Aim: This study was conducted to assess interns' level of exposure to different aspects of professional attitude and behaviour among faculty and residents.
Methods: In this descriptive study, 218 interns in surgery and internal medicine wards at four teaching hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences were enrolled during the first semester of the 2007/2008 academic year. Each intern completed one questionnaire for faculty and one for residents in their ward.
Results: The questionnaire was completed by 150 students (68.8%) for faculty and by 139 students (63.7%) for residents. In terms of overall aspects of professionalism, the mean (±SD) score on observing professionalism was 52.9±10 and 49.26±7.9 points out of 70 for faculty and residents, respectively. Students agreed that responsibility was observed better than other aspects of professionalism (119/150 (79.3%) and 115/139 (82.8%) students stated it was often or always observed by faculty and residents, respectively). In both groups, commitment to honour and integrity and excellence was less compared with other areas.
Conclusion: Medical faculty and residents should be more aware of their behaviour and attitudes in practice, especially their interaction with colleagues so that students' professional behaviour can be improved.