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Date of Presentation
5-8-2025
Document Type
Article
Department
Medicine
Faculty Mentor
Jerome Freeman, MD
Keywords
kindness, medical education, ethics, patient-provider relationship, qualitative research
Subject Categories
Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
This qualitative study explores how medical students at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine understand and practice kindness throughout their medical education. Through individual interviews and focus groups conducted in two phases, before and after clinical immersion, the research identifies four central themes: definition of kindness, clinical environments, provider practices, and ethics. Findings reveal that students initially view kindness as an innate trait but increasingly recognize it as a deliberate decision influenced by clinical challenges. Contextual factors such as time constraints, emotional exhaustion, and negative work environments were found to hinder expressions of kindness. Students also noted that ethical preparedness improved significantly after clinical exposure and ethics coursework. The study underscores the importance of integrating kindness and humanitarian values into medical curricula to foster compassionate care and ethical decision-making.
Recommended Citation
Moore, Madigan; Freeman, Jerome; Cook, Ann; and Messerli, Jamie, "Transitional Understanding of Kindness in Medical Students" (2025). Scholarship Pathways Program. 8.
https://red.library.usd.edu/spp/8