Article History
Received: 4 November 2019
Accepted: 10 August 2020
First Online: 17 August 2020
Ethics approval and consent to participate
: According to the Reggio Emilia Hospital “Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova” internal regulation regarding continuing medical education (CME), the researcher could dispense with informed consent as the study concerned educational practices and quality improvement. Moreover, in accordance with internal procedures, the training was endorsed by the competent body of the Hospital (CME Scientific Committee) and not submitted to the Local Ethical Committee (Provincial Ethical Committee of Reggio Emilia). The researcher, however, adopted specific participant protection procedures. Usually, the trainees are asked to evaluate the curricula and the classroom management methods anonymously, filling in a sort of customer satisfaction survey. In this case, the researcher asked teachers to agree with trainees to involve them in the focused ethnography, with the aim of both evaluating the training and discussing their in-service training experience. As the participation in the training implied involvement in the study, teachers made sure that trainees were fully aware of this. Participants had received this information before the training started, and during the first meeting teachers introduced the external researcher (LDP). Trainees were adequately informed about her role of external observer. Trainees were also informed about confidentiality: they were reassured that the method of making observations would not result in personal identification or harm. Again, participation by the trainees in interviews and the FG was on a voluntary basis. The researcher gathered verbal consent prior to audio recording and audio-registered the consent soon after. It was also clearly stated that all and any information obtained as a consequence of this study would be guaranteed and protected as indicated under the Italian Law on Privacy and, as such, could not possibly be traced.
: Participants gave consent for anonymous quotes to be published from the research.
: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.