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. 2017 Mar 24;5(2):16.
doi: 10.3390/pharmacy5020016.

Developing Professional Identity in Undergraduate Pharmacy Students: A Role for Self-Determination Theory

Martina F Mylrea  1 , Tarun Sen Gupta  2 , Beverley D Glass  3
Affiliations

Developing Professional Identity in Undergraduate Pharmacy Students: A Role for Self-Determination Theory

Martina F Mylrea et al. Pharmacy (Basel). .

Abstract

Professional identity development, seen as essential in the transition from student to professional, needs to be owned by the universities in order to ensure a workforce appropriately prepared to provide global health care in the future. The development of professional identity involves a focus on who the student is becoming, as well as what they know or can do, and requires authentic learning experiences such as practice exposure and interaction with pharmacist role models. This article examines conceptual frameworks aligned with professional identity development and will explore the role for self-determination theory (SDT) in pharmacy professional education. SDT explains the concepts of competence, relatedness and autonomy and the part they play in producing highly motivated individuals, leading to the development of one's sense of self. Providing support for students in these three critical areas may, in accordance with the tenets of SDT, have the potential to increase motivation levels and their sense of professional identity.

Keywords: health professionals; pharmacy education; professional identity; professionalisation; self-determination theory.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagrammatic representation of motivation types as described by Self-Determination Theory. Adapted from Ryan and Deci [47].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Conceptualisation of the role of self-determination theory nutriments in the development of professional identity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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