Building Factors for the Trustful Relationship Among Medical Teachers and Students

Abstract

Our study aimed to explore the factors affecting the trustful relationship between teachers and students in a medical school, which is a subject that has attracted very little attention in literature. This study, conducted at the University College of Medicine and Dentistry in Pakistan, identified ways to increase the trustful relationship between teachers and students. Through a qualitative research design utilising an exploratory study method, one-to-one interviews were carried out with 10 medical students and 10 medical teachers. Data were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and codes and themes were applied using ATLAS.ti. Students revealed that a trustful relationship can be improved by enhancing teachers’ professionalism, accessibility, mentorship, empathy, and dedication, whereas students should possess emotional intelligence and conformist, fairness, affiliative, and achiever qualities to build trust with teachers. This study found that by working on these qualities, a trustful relationship can be improved between teachers and students.