Experiences of Clinical Lecturers in Providing a Supportive Learning Atmosphere Required for the Development of the Medical Students' Professional Identity

Abstract

Background. Clinical environments create unpredictable conditions that affect the professional excellence of learners. This study aimed to explore and elucidate the lived experiences of clinical lecturers in creating a supportive learning environment necessary for developing the professional identity of medical students. Methods. To conduct this qualitative study, a conventional content analysis approach was adopted. The data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with clinical instructors and students of medical sciences, which continued until data saturation was reached. Four criteria of credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability were adopted to maintain the study's trustworthiness, and MAXQDA 10 software was used for data management. The interviews were analyzed employing the content analysis method. Results. Three themes were extracted and listed under the headings of "Clinical Professor as an architect of a learning environment", "creating a supportive atmosphere", and "a holistic view of the education process and students' needs" based on the results from the interview analyses. Conclusion. Clinical educators may pay special attention to the students' needs and provide them with appropriate learning opportunities to shape their professional identity, show their respect for professional values by creating a supportive atmosphere, concentrate their attention on different human dimensions, and show their respect for the principles of conduct and professional obligations. Clinical educators, as professional advisors and role models, may have also helped the students improve their metacognitive skills and enhance their professional competence.