Overshadowed by shadowing: exploring how Canadian medical students experience shadowing
Background: Preclinical medical students commonly perceive shadowing as beneficial for career exploration. However, research is sparse on the broader impact of shadowing as a learning strategy. We explored students’ perceptions and lived experiences of shadowing to understand its role and impact on...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Medical Education Journal
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Canadian Medical Education Journal |
| Online Access: | https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/74348 |
| _version_ | 1811271669457616896 |
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| author | Ming K Li Grace Xu Paula Veinot Maria Mylopoulos Marcus Law |
| author_facet | Ming K Li Grace Xu Paula Veinot Maria Mylopoulos Marcus Law |
| author_sort | Ming K Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background: Preclinical medical students commonly perceive shadowing as beneficial for career exploration. However, research is sparse on the broader impact of shadowing as a learning strategy. We explored students’ perceptions and lived experiences of shadowing to understand its role and impact on their personal and professional lives.
Methods: Between 2020-2021, individual semi-structured video interviews were conducted with 15 Canadian medical students in this qualitative descriptive study. Inductive analysis proceeded concurrently with data collection until no new dominant concepts were identified. Data were iteratively coded and grouped into themes.
Results: Participants described internal and external factors that moulded shadowing experiences, arising tensions between intended and perceived experiences, and how these lived experiences impacted their wellness. Internal factors associated with shadowing behaviour included: 1) aspiring to be the best and shadowing to demonstrate excellence, 2) shadowing for career exploration, 3) shadowing as learning opportunities for early clinical exposure and career preparedness, and 4) reaffirming and redefining professional identity through shadowing. External factors were: 1) unclear residency match processes which position shadowing as competitive leverage, 2) faculty messaging that perpetuates student confusion around the intended value of shadowing, and 3) social comparison in peer discourse, fuelling a competitive shadowing culture.
Conclusions: The tension between balancing wellness with career ambitions and the unintended consequences of unclear messaging regarding shadowing in a competitive medical culture highlights issues inherent in shadowing culture.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:25:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76c48966a49242caa150425175165e3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1923-1202 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:25:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Medical Education Journal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Medical Education Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-76c48966a49242caa150425175165e3e2022-12-22T03:14:11ZengCanadian Medical Education JournalCanadian Medical Education Journal1923-12022022-09-0110.36834/cmej.74348Overshadowed by shadowing: exploring how Canadian medical students experience shadowingMing K Li0Grace Xu1Paula Veinot2Maria Mylopoulos3Marcus Law4University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoIndependent Research ConsultantUniversity of TorontoUniversity of Toronto Background: Preclinical medical students commonly perceive shadowing as beneficial for career exploration. However, research is sparse on the broader impact of shadowing as a learning strategy. We explored students’ perceptions and lived experiences of shadowing to understand its role and impact on their personal and professional lives. Methods: Between 2020-2021, individual semi-structured video interviews were conducted with 15 Canadian medical students in this qualitative descriptive study. Inductive analysis proceeded concurrently with data collection until no new dominant concepts were identified. Data were iteratively coded and grouped into themes. Results: Participants described internal and external factors that moulded shadowing experiences, arising tensions between intended and perceived experiences, and how these lived experiences impacted their wellness. Internal factors associated with shadowing behaviour included: 1) aspiring to be the best and shadowing to demonstrate excellence, 2) shadowing for career exploration, 3) shadowing as learning opportunities for early clinical exposure and career preparedness, and 4) reaffirming and redefining professional identity through shadowing. External factors were: 1) unclear residency match processes which position shadowing as competitive leverage, 2) faculty messaging that perpetuates student confusion around the intended value of shadowing, and 3) social comparison in peer discourse, fuelling a competitive shadowing culture. Conclusions: The tension between balancing wellness with career ambitions and the unintended consequences of unclear messaging regarding shadowing in a competitive medical culture highlights issues inherent in shadowing culture. https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/74348 |
| spellingShingle | Ming K Li Grace Xu Paula Veinot Maria Mylopoulos Marcus Law Overshadowed by shadowing: exploring how Canadian medical students experience shadowing Canadian Medical Education Journal |
| title | Overshadowed by shadowing: exploring how Canadian medical students experience shadowing |
| title_full | Overshadowed by shadowing: exploring how Canadian medical students experience shadowing |
| title_fullStr | Overshadowed by shadowing: exploring how Canadian medical students experience shadowing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overshadowed by shadowing: exploring how Canadian medical students experience shadowing |
| title_short | Overshadowed by shadowing: exploring how Canadian medical students experience shadowing |
| title_sort | overshadowed by shadowing exploring how canadian medical students experience shadowing |
| url | https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/74348 |
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