From baby boomers to Gen Z: The changing values shaping medical education and professionalism in Brazil.

Abstract

Personal values have undergone rapid transformations, resulting in a generational clash between traditionalist values and contemporary values. We hypothesized that understanding the personal values of younger physicians will help reduce conflicts and define new medical education strategies focused on their interests and lifestyle. The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations among those in training and junior orthopaedic surgeons' self-reported values using the Rokeach Value Survey. As a secondary aim, we sought to compare these findings with those of a cohort of orthopaedic surgeons from four generations. A cross-sectional survey study using the Rokeach Values Survey (RVS) was performed. The RVS was distributed electronically via email and through the social network Instagram to 270 orthopaedic surgeons and orthopaedic residents and fellows from Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. The distribution was based on the number of previously identified members of each generation from the orthopaedic departments of five institutions taking part in this study. The exclusion criteria were no response from both value sets, no response from either value set, or graduate medical students. Descriptive analysis and multiple comparison tests were used to analyze the order of importance for the values between the generations. Of the 270 potential participants invited, 236 (87.4 %) respondents, 207 (87.7 %) men and 29 (12.3 %) women, were included. There were 52 (22 %) generation Z respondents (response rate, 65 %), 74 (31.4 %) generation Y respondents (response rate, 92.5 %), 60 (25.4 %) generation X respondents (response rate, 100 %), and 50 (21.2 %) Baby Boomers respondents (response rate, 100 %). The mean age of Generation Z participants was 24.9 years, ranging from 23.2 to 26.0 years, the mean age of Generation Y participants was 36.6 years, ranging from 27.2 to 43.6 years, the mean age of Generation X participants was 50.8 years, ranging from 44.6 to 58.2 years, and the mean age of Baby Boomer participants was 65.5 years, ranging from 59.9 to 72.9 years. Overall, younger generations (Y and Z) presented significant differences in self-reported values compared with Baby Boomers and Generation X. In our study, we found that the younger generations presented greater ambition, cheerfulness, courage, independence, and desire for a comfortable and exciting life; and lower imagination, politeness, honesty, forgiveness, and interest in wisdom and true friendship. Our findings may provide more insight for managing age-related conflicts, encouraging balance and respect, and developing skills and strategies to promote effective learning and teaching.