Analytical theme development
| Core theme | Experiences associated with positive emotions (eg, rewarding, enjoyment, gratification) | Mediating circumstances influencing attitudes | Experiences associated with negative emotions (eg, frustration, helplessness, isolation) |
| Theme 1: Exposure to patient recovery | Development of mental toughness and enhanced communication skills | Complex patient illness | Lack of responsibility for patient care, unable to make a patient better |
| Feeling challenged in day-to-day role, contributing to patient care | Making a difference | Limited psychiatric skill development, menial tasks | |
| Theme 2: Connectedness with the healthcare team | Being part of the healthcare team | Meaningful participation | Lack of shared experiences with peers, supervisors and patients |
| Supporting effective treatment plans for patients | Role definition | Not being involved in decision-making processes | |
| Theme 3: Subjective interpretations of psychiatry | Understanding the patient story | Therapeutic value | Stigma of profession, disengagement with patients |
| Gaining valuable transferable knowledge, future career | Interest in psychiatry | Disinterest in psychiatry, over-reliance on pharmacology |