Factors Influencing Faculty Participation in Medical Education Development Programs: A Qualitative Case Study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Faculty Development
• Higher Education

Background:

• Faculty development is vital for enhancing teaching, research, leadership, and professional growth in medical education.
• Engagement in faculty development programs varies significantly among educators.
• Understanding factors influencing participation is key to improving medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and explain factors influencing participation of basic and clinical science faculty in an online medical education faculty development course.
• To provide insights for medical universities to enhance faculty engagement in development programs.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study was conducted in Iran from July 2022 to May 2023.
• Data collected via online qualitative surveys (N=86) and semi-structured telephone interviews (N=8) until data saturation.
• Thematic analysis was used to identify factors influencing faculty participation.

Main Results:

• Five major themes emerged: professional/occupational, individual, social, educational/academic, and managerial/leadership/organizational factors.
• Professional factors: career advancement and job requirements.
• Individual factors: intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy.
• Social factors: peer support and social status.
• Educational factors: innovative teaching methods.
• Managerial factors: institutional support and leadership.

Conclusions:

• Faculty participation is influenced by a combination of professional, individual, social, educational, and organizational factors.
• Institutions can enhance faculty engagement through incentives, flexible program delivery, and supportive organizational culture.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for designing effective faculty development initiatives.