Table 2 Physicians’ attitudes toward medical professionalism (n, %)

A1Maintaining professional competence

3.48 ± 0.46

A11.Physicians should continually update their knowledge and improve their professional ability.

2(0.9)

7(3.0)

68(29.3)

155(66.8)

3.62 ± 0.59

A12. Physicians should undergo periodic recertification examinations.

18(7.8)

31(13.4)

81(35.1)

101(43.7)

3.15 ± 0.93

A13. Physicians should know medical laws and regulations, such as the Physician practice law and Tort liability law.

0(0.0)

2(0.9)

71(30.7)

158(68.4)

3.68 ± 0.49

A2 Honesty with patients

3.60 ± 0.44

A21. Physicians should inform their patients of the pros and cons of the treatment plan.

0(0.0)

2(0.9)

68(29.3)

162(69.8)

3.69 ± 0.48

A22. Physicians should be realistic, and not mislead patients to unreasonable medical choices.

0(0.0)

6(2.6)

63(27.2)

163(70.3)

3.68 ± 0.52

A23. When a significant medical error occurs, physicians should inform the affected patients and/or their family.

3(1.3)

11(4.8)

98(42.4)

119(51.5)

3.44 ± 0.65

A3 Protecting patients’ confidentiality

A31. Physicians should keep confidential the patient’s medical condition, privacy, and etc.

0(0.0)

1(0.4)

64(27.7)

166(71.9)

3.71 ± 0.46

A4 Improving quality of care

3.36 ± 0.54

A41. Physicians should be committed to improving medical quality.

1(0.4)

8(3.4)

68(29.3)

155(66.8)

3.63 ± 0.58

A42. Physicians should participate in peer evaluations of the quality of care provided by colleagues.

3(1.3)

28(12.1)

92(39.7)

109(47.0)

3.32 ± 0.74

A43. Physicians should actively report their adverse medical events.

1(0.4)

11(4.7)

89(38.4)

131(56.5)

3.51 ± 0.61

A44. Physicians should report adverse medical events of other physicians to leaders or relevant departments.

4(1.7)

36(15.5)

90(38.8)

102(44.0)

3.25 ± 0.78

A45. Physicians should report incompetent colleagues to leaders or relevant departments.

4(1.7)

50(21.6)

95(40.9)

83(35.8)

3.11 ± 0.80

A5 Improving access to care

3.49 ± 0.54

A51. Physicians should provide essential medical care services regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.

6(2.6)

17(7.4)

85(36.8)

123(53.2)

3.41 ± 0.74

A52. As for the patients with financial difficulties, physicians should choose as economical and effective treatment plan as possible.

0(0.0)

6(2.6)

90(38.8)

136(58.6)

3.56 ± 0.55

A6 Just distribution of finite resources

A61. Physicians should treat patients equally regardless of ethnic, gender, economic status, social status, religion, etc.

1(0.4)

4(1.7)

58(25.0)

169(72.8)

3.70 ± 0.52

A7 Commitment to scientific knowledge

A71. Physicians should popularize health knowledge to the public in an easy to understand way.

0(0.0)

4(1.7)

68(29.3)

160(69.0)

3.67 ± 0.51

A8 Maintaining trust by managing conflicts of interest

A81. Physicians should put patients’ welfare above the physician’s own personal interests.

10(4.3)

26(11.2)

75(32.3)

121(52.2)

3.32 ± 0.84

A9 Commitment to professional responsibilities

3.70 ± 0.44

A91. Physicians should follow rules and guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and medication, and provide reasonable medical service.

0(0.0)

4(1.7)

56(24.1)

172(74.1)

3.72 ± 0.49

A92. Physicians should evaluate colleagues’ professional ability and personal qualities fairly and objectively.

0(0.0)

3(1.3)

79(34.1)

150(64.7)

3.63 ± 0.51

A93. Physicians should not slander each other or improperly obstruct patient’s trust in peers.

1(0.4)

2(0.9)

56(24.1)

173(74.6)

3.73 ± 0.49