Table 3.
Overview of themes and sub-themes
| Theme 1. Medical school experiences | |
| 1.1 Stressful and tedious | |
| 1.2 Interesting and enjoyable | |
| Theme 2. Medical school capacity | |
| 2.1 Human capacity | |
| 2.1.1 Number of teaching staff | |
| 2.1.2 Time dedicated to teaching | |
| 2.1.3 Teaching skills of staff | |
| 2.2 Organisational capacity | |
| 2.2.1 Departmental differences in organisational capacity | |
| 2.2.2 Curriculum related challenges | |
| 2.3 Physical capacity | |
| 2.3.1 Impact of civil war on the campus and teaching hospitals | |
| 2.3.2 Travel to and from the campus | |
| 2.3.3 Facilities at the campus and teaching hospitals | |
| 2.3.4 Learning resources | |
| 2.3.5 Teaching aids and medical equipment | |
| 2.4 Financial capacity | |
| 2.4.1 Remunerations for teaching staff | |
| 2.4.2 Scholarships for students | |
| Theme 3. Medical school culture | |
| 3.1 Culture of fear | |
| 3.1.1 Fear of teaching staff during bedside and classroom teaching | |
| 3.1.2 Fear of failure during exams and assessments | |
| 3.2 Culture of perceived unfairness | |
| 3.2.1 Rumours of impartiality in scholarships | |
| 3.2.2 Perceptions of favouritism in class and examination | |
| Theme 4. Coping strategies | |
| 4.1 School level | |
| 4.1.1 ‘Creatively’ hire extra teaching staff | |
| 4.1.2 Base teaching schedule upon availability of teaching staff | |
| 4.2 Staff level | |
| 4.2.1 Juggle of multiple roles | |
| 4.2.2 Teach flexibly | |
| 4.3 Student level | |
| 4.3.1 Comply with ‘hidden’ rules | |
| 4.3.2 Negotiate teaching support from less qualified health personnel | |
| 4.3.3 Get by with self- directive learning | |
| 4.3.4 Cooperate with other students | |
| 4.3.5 Student union acting as advocate for students | |
| 4.3.6 Rely on financial and moral support from family and friends |