Clinical Instructors Experiences with Team Working in Clinical Education: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the experience of clinical instructors on team working in clinical education as a step towards promoting learners' professionalism in a healthy educational atmosphere.

Methods: In this qualitative study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observation. The participants were 20 clinical instructors, 8 medical student and 5 medical working staffs in multiple Iranian medical universities. Data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman conventional content analysis.

Results: The analysis showed three main categories. First category was "clinical education as the manifestation of team working" included "strategies to internalize team working in clinical education", "duties of instructors as the leaders of clinical education team", and "the requirements of a successful team working". The second category was "communicative skills as the heart of successful team working" included "successful team working requires good communication", "facilitators of establishing a constructive relationship between educator and students in clinical education team", "Facilitators of patient participation in clinical education as a member of education team", "preventive factors of effective relationship between clinical team members", "ethical norms in establishing rapport between learners and clinical instructors in a team" and the third category was "the outcomes of team work-based clinical education included "promoted psychological security of learners", "promoted cognitive and decision-making skills", and "increased commitment and accountability of learners".

Conclusion: By empowering instructors, we can overcome individualism because values and cultures are transmitted primarily through role modeling. Educational planners must adopt goals based on teamwork so that learners feel a sense of interdependence and internalize the team spirit.