Stakeholder Groups' Unique Perspectives About the Attending Physician Preceptor Role: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Attending physician preceptors have multiple accountability stakeholders.
• Stakeholder perspectives on the preceptor role are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore unique stakeholder perspectives on the attending physician preceptor role.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 73 participants across seven stakeholder groups.
• Inductive thematic analysis of interview transcripts to identify recurrent and unique themes.

Main Results:

• Patients/families emphasized ultimate authority; allied providers noted collaboration and humor.
• Nurses sought role standardization; managers desired humanism.
• Medical students highlighted emotional labor; residents focused on multi-stakeholder responsibilities; preceptors valued lifelong learning.

Conclusions:

• Diverse stakeholder views offer nuanced insights into the attending physician preceptor role.
• These perspectives can inform formal guidance for medical education and patient care.
• Identified skills should be actively practiced, taught, and role-modeled.