Impacts of service learning-based social responsibility training on medical students.

Social responsibility (SR) is a fundamental value among physicians, who must maintain a positive attitude toward it during medical education by providing community service. This study investigated the impacts of service learning-based social responsibility training (SRT) by evaluating the SR perceptions of medical students who had participated in an SRT program and their views on the impacts of SRT on themselves, their institution, and the studied target groups. Four focus group interviews were held with 32 medical students, following a determined purposeful sampling method. Guided by qualitative content analysis, the data were analyzed through an iterative coding process. The analysis of the students' perceptions of SR revealed 13 themes in the impact of SRT: 7 for medical students, 4 for the medical school, and 2 for the studied target groups. The students explained SR with concepts of responsibility, volunteering, sensitivity, kindness, and community orientation and believed that SRT practices based on service learning effectively deepen the understanding of SR and the needs of the target groups in which they work. Communication, teamwork, leadership, and project management skills were defined as students' achievements. SRT practices had a positive effect on the studied target groups by meeting their physical and emotional needs; furthermore, they increased their medical school's recognition and accountability in society. Therefore, providing service learning-based experiences with reflection opportunities throughout medical education supports the development of medical students' understanding of SR, which can be strengthened with a supportive corporate culture and by improving the faculty's role-modeling and tutoring skills.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Social responsibility is a fundamental value among physicians, who must maintain a positive attitude toward it during medical education by providing community service. Providing service learning-based experiences with reflection opportunities throughout medical education supports the development of medical students' understanding of social responsibility, which can be strengthened with a supportive corporate culture and by improving the faculty's role-modeling and tutoring skills.

From the lens of the clinical residents: undergraduate to postgraduate medical education and the transition process.

The concept of continuity in medical education reflects the progressive professional and personal development that physicians need in education. The aim of this study is investigating the views of the residents about the adequacy of undergraduate and postgraduate education in the context of preparing them for the next stage and their perceptions about the transition period. This phenomenological study was conducted at Hacettepe University Medical School. The study group consisted of medical and surgical sciences residents in the first year and last year of postgraduate medical education. Four focus group interviews were held with the participation of 21 residents. The participants emphasised that practising with real patients under supervision by taking an active role in healthcare teams was important for their preparation for the next stage in their carrier. However, their educational experiences during undergraduate medical education differed in community-based education, scientific research training, learning in small groups, internship and guidance of clinical educators. The transition period has been expressed with the concepts of identity change, high responsibilities and expectations required by the new identity, adaptation to the healthcare team, institution, and health system, meeting the expectations in an overly busy work environment, and feelings of incompetence. Participants pointed out that curriculum, which was declared and taught, educational environments, assessment approaches, consultancy systems and practices differed between the clinical departments. In line with the principles of competency-based education, practices related to the development and assessment of the competencies with all professional aspects in postgraduate medical education can be strengthened.