Background: Research studies on physicians disciplined by state medical boards showed specific types of unprofessional behavior were predictive of later disciplinary action. Similarly, law enforcement officers who received disciplinary action scored lower on certain scales of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI).
Method: This study used a case-control descriptive design and independent t tests to examine differences in scores on six psychological indices (CPI scales) by level of unprofessional behavior during medical school.
Results: Physicians who demonstrated unprofessional behavior during medical school versus those who did not scored significantly lower on four CPI scales. Results are consistent with findings in which general unprofessional behavior during medical school can be further characterized to domains of irresponsibility, lack of self-improvement, and poor initiative.
Conclusions: The psychological indices of the CPI scales differed by level of unprofessional behavior, which leads one to wonder whether the use of personality measures should be considered during the admissions process to medical school.