The Perspectives of the Faculty Members, Medical Interns and Residents of Obstetrics and Gynecology Ward about Influencing Factors of Professional Ethics Development in Practice

Education of professional ethics is an important part of medical students program and professionalism is considered as one of the core competencies in medicine. Identifying the factors affecting learning professionalism in the obstetrics and gynecology ward with its own ethical challenges can help to the efficacy of training programs. This study was performed with aim to determine the views and experiences of clinical faculty members and medical learners of obstetrics and gynecology ward about the factors affecting the professional ethics development in practice.
In this qualitative study in 2013, 10 faculty members and 30 residents and medical interns of obstetrics and gynecology wards in Shahid Sayyad Shirazi educational center were participated. To collect data, semi-structured individual interviews were used and stopped when theoretical saturation occurred. The interviews were transcribed line by line in accordance with a "conventional content analysis" and were coded and categorized.
The data analysis revealed four main themes including "humanistic profession, personality and character, role model, and educational and social factors" that explained the factors affecting the professional ethics development in the obstetrics and gynecology ward from the perspective of the faculty members, medical students and residents.
The professor's role model and clinical training programs in the obstetrics and gynecology ward were the most important factors affecting the professional ethics development. Therefore, it seems that with appropriate educational interventions on these two important components, we could promote professional ethics education in clinical practice.