Attributes of Good Faculty as Perceived by Health Professions Students: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Diverse perspectives have been documented regarding the attributes of outstanding university faculty members. It is crucial to consider the evolving demands and expectations of students at the University of Medical Sciences, which change with age and educational stages. Extracting students' opinions and expectations can yield valuable insights into the attributes required of faculty members in academic institutions. Objectives: This study aimed to identify health professions students’ perceptions of the attributes of a good faculty member. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach. The participants in this study were health professions students (medicine, nursing, midwifery, laboratory sciences, operating room technology, anesthesia, prehospital emergency, pharmacy, dentistry, and health) at Alborz University of Medical Sciences, who were purposefully selected. Study data were gathered by conducting in-depth, face-to-face, and semi-structured personal interviews with 23 students, as well as a group interview with seven students. The data analysis followed the conventional content analysis approach, using the steps proposed by Lundman and Granheim. Results: Study participants’ perceptions of good faculty attributes fell into two main categories: Personality attributes and professional attributes. Personality attributes included appearance and personality traits. Professional attributes encompassed scientific and scholarly qualities, as well as teaching skills. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that study participants placed significant emphasis on both personality and professional attributes when defining good faculty characteristics. Sub-categories such as appearance, personality traits, scientific expertise, and teaching skills emerged as important factors shaping student perceptions of faculty members. This underscores the multifaceted nature of what constitutes an effective faculty member in students' eyes and highlights the importance of cultivating a diverse range of attributes within academia. Future research could delve deeper into each sub-category to refine our understanding of what truly defines effective faculty members.