Workplace affordances and learning engagement in a Thai paediatric intensive care unit
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17434971
eISSN
1743498X
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85206910852
Journal Title
Clinical Teacher
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Clinical Teacher (2024)
Suggested Citation
Trisukhon K., Thammasitboon S., Vaewpanich J., Petrescu M., Punyoo J., Jongaramraung J., Pakakasama S., Balmer D.F. Workplace affordances and learning engagement in a Thai paediatric intensive care unit. Clinical Teacher (2024). doi:10.1111/tct.13821 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/101769
Title
Workplace affordances and learning engagement in a Thai paediatric intensive care unit
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Workplace learning in critical care settings is complex and challenging. Research has explored learner-, teacher-, and context-related factors that influence medical residents' engagement in critical care workplaces in Western but not in non-Western cultures. This limits our understanding of workplace learning globally and how we can better support resident learning in diverse cultures. Objective: To explore how paediatric residents engage in workplace learning in a Thai Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and how this culturally situated workplace shapes their learning. Methods: In this qualitative study, we recruited paediatric residents (n = 16) from a tertiary care hospital in Thailand for semi-structured interviews. We used reflexive thematic analysis to describe, analyse and interpret residents' experiences of workplace learning, and to capitalise on our own experience as an analytic resource. Results: We constructed three themes to represent participants' narratives: PICU cases and context as dynamic affordances; impact of psychological safety; and the role of attending physicians. While Thai PICU cases and context could afford participation and thus learning, Thailand's collectivist culture, which prioritises group needs over individual needs, contributed to a sense of psychological safety within culturally-endorsed, professional and social hierarchies, and set the stage for workplace learning. Despite their higher status in these hierarchies, attending physicians facilitated resident learning by fostering open dialogue, joint problem-solving and a low-stress atmosphere. Conclusions: Workplace learning in a Thai PICU while challenging, is uniquely facilitated by Thailand's collectivist culture that fosters psychological safety and attending physicians' invitation in, and learn from, the workplace optimises learning.
