Coping Strategies of Derogatory Comments and Cynical Humor in Clinical Teaching among Dental Students

Abstract

Objective: To identify the strategies students adopt to cope with derogatory comments from senior clinicians and/or teachers. Study Design: Qualitative study. Settings: The study was done at Punjab medical college (PMC) dental institute, Faisalabad medical University, Faisalabad Pakistan. Duration: 6 months from 01-03-2023 to 31-08-2023. Methods: The study was a qualitative phenomenological study. Final year bachelors of dental surgery students from one public and one private-sector institute were enrolled in this study. Semi-structured interviews of 10 students were conducted. Data collected was recorded by audio device, backed up, transcribed, arranged and coded. Data was analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. Lazarus model of stress and coping strategies formed the basis of this study. Results: 44 codes were identified which were grouped in 8 subthemes. These eight subthemes were further grouped into two themes i.e. Successful Coping strategies and unsuccessful Coping strategies. Ten different coping strategies were identified when the interpretative phenomenological analysis was done. Lazarus model of stress and coping was modified to derogatory comments coping model. Conclusion: Medical educators must provide the platform to the students where student issues can be discussed and resolved within the comfort zone of students, so we can make sure that the dentist we are producing has adequate knowledge and skill to treat the patients in society.