Religious ceremonies and the ethical development of medical sciences students: A qualitative study on participation barriers and perceived value

by Amir Hossin Moradpour Dehnavi, Abolfazl Alavi, Amin Beigzadeh, Ali Reza Yusefi Religious ceremonies can play a pivotal role in shaping ethical values among medical sciences students. However, participation in such ceremonies is often influenced by multiple academic, social, and cultural factors.

This study aimed to explore the perceived value of religious ceremonies and the barriers affecting student participation in these practices within the context of their ethical development. This qualitative study was conducted at Sirjan School of Medical Sciences in southern Iran from March to July 2025, using a latent content analysis approach grounded in the interpretivist paradigm.

Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 33 students from diverse academic programs and backgrounds. Data were analyzed inductively based on Graneheim and Lundman’s framework using MAXQDA 2022 software.

Trustworthiness was ensured through Lincoln and Guba’s criteria including credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability. Seven main themes and twenty- four subthemes emerged.