Eureka moments: ICU physicians' views on teaching

Teaching hospitals are fast-paced health care environments where clinical supervisors constantly balance teaching and patient care. Although hospital-based clinicians in acute care settings regularly teach trainees, views regarding their teaching roles and how this relates to professional satisfaction are less well studied. We explored perspectives of physicians who teach trainees in medical intensive care units (MICUs), to understand whether their engagement in teaching has any impact on professional (job) satisfaction.

This qualitative study used focus groups of MICU fellows (postgraduate clinical trainees) and attending physicians (consultants) to explore participants' perceptions of their teaching roles. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed; thematic analysis was conducted on de-identified transcripts.

Four focus groups were held; two with MICU attendings (n = 13) and two with MICU fellows (n = 12). We identified four key themes: two challenges of teaching (being a chameleon; calibrating learner abilities), one benefit of teaching (facilitating learners' eureka moments) and a call for professional development (peer coaching to enhance teaching skills).

Although teaching in acute clinical environments requires balancing dynamic learner needs and complex patient care needs, participants found it highly rewarding. They called for peer coaching initiatives to enhance professional development as teachers and demonstrate departmental commitment to teaching.

While teaching in acute clinical settings is challenging for many reasons, clinical teachers emphasise that it is very satisfying when learners see the 'light'. Overt institutional support and recognition for clinical teachers along with peer coaching and debriefing may tilt the balance towards the rewards side of the equation and foster professional satisfaction.