Journal Article

Exploring formal and informal learning opportunities during morning report: a qualitative study

Skipper, Mads, Balslev, Thomas, Sørensen, Anita, Malling, Bente Vigh, Møller, Jane Ege, Sunde, Lone

2024

Overview

Background Morning reports are an essential component of physicians’ daily work. Attending morning reports is prioritized by junior doctors as it provides them with an opportunity to learn diagnostic reasoning through discussion of cases. While teaching formats during morning reports have previously been reported, an in-depth analysis of what learning opportunities exist, e.g., how teaching is enacted during morning reports, is lacking. This qualitative study explores learning opportunities during morning reports. Methods We used an explorative design based on video-recordings of 23 morning reports from two surgical departments, an internal medicine department and an emergency department. We used thematic analysis combined with and inspired by Eraut’s theoretical framework of workplace learning. Results Both formal and informal learning opportunities were identified. Formal learning opportunities had the character of planned teaching activities, and we identified four themes: (1) modes of teaching, (2) structure, (3) presenter role, and (4) participant involvement. Informal learning, on the other hand, was often implicit and reactive, while deliberate learning opportunities were rare. The data showed many missed opportunities for learning. Conclusion Both formal and informal learning opportunities are present during morning reports. However, a prevalent focus on medical topics exists, leaving other important aspects of the medical role under-discussed. Pedagogical methods could be employed more optimally, and harnessing the potential of missed opportunities should be encouraged.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Clinical education / Departments / Education / Educational Opportunities / Emergency medical care / Emergency medicine / Ethics / Evidence-based medicine / Humans / Informal and formal learning opportunities / Informal Education / Internal medicine / Learning / Learning activities / Medical Education / Medicine / Morning report / Participation / Physicians / Postgraduate medical education / Qualitative Research / Teaching / Teaching Methods / Teaching Rounds / Teaching styles and format / Theory of Medicine/Bioethics / Workplace learning