Explanation of the Professional Development Process of General Surgery Residents in the Operating Rooms: A Situational Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Numerous factors and elements are effective in the professional development of any field of study, including the educational structure, the individual characteristics of learners, and the educational atmosphere prevalent in the educational environment. Understanding each of these factors and elements and the relationships among them can guide educational system administrators in the direction of professional development. Surgical residents’ professional development is no exception to this rule. As a consequence, the present research sought to explain and suggest a model for surgical assistant professional growth in Iranian operating rooms. METHODS: The present research was a grounded theory study based on a post-positivist approach, in which data analysis was performed using Clark’s situational analysis methodology by drawing three maps, situational map, social worlds/arenas map, and positional map. RESULTS: In the presence of human and non-human factors, cultural, political, historical, and social components, the ordered situational map demonstrated the complexity of the operating room learning environment. The social worlds/arenas map confirmed the existence of several communities of practice wherein surgical residents were present with different power roles, and the positional map showed role of the educational level in the acquisition of the competence in the professional development pathway. Finally, the Triple Helix model of professional development was extracted, which has three components: psychological identity, social identity, and surgical competency. CONCLUSION: The surgical residents’ professional development in operating rooms occurs due to the acquisition of surgical competency along with the growth of individuals and socialization. As a result, all factors and components impacting the residents' competence development process in this learning environment must be identified and their linkages clarified.