Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jun 8;22(1):443.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03393-9.

Professional identity formation of medical students: A mixed-methods study in a hierarchical and collectivist culture

Ardi Findyartini  1   2 , Nadia Greviana  3   4 , Estivana Felaza  3   4 , Muhammad Faruqi  4   5 , Taris Zahratul Afifah  4   5 , Mutiara Auliya Firdausy  4   5
Affiliations

Professional identity formation of medical students: A mixed-methods study in a hierarchical and collectivist culture

Ardi Findyartini et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Professional identity formation (PIF) has been recognized as an integral part of professional development in medical education. PIF is dynamic: it occurs longitudinally and requires immersion in the socialization process. Consequently, in the medical education context, it is vital to foster a nurturing learning environment that facilitates PIF.

Aim: This study assesses PIF among medical students in various stages of study and explores their perceptions of PIF, with its contributing and inhibiting factors.

Method: This mixed-methods study uses a sequential explanatory approach with undergraduate (years 2, 4, and 6) and postgraduate medical students in Indonesia. We examine the subjects by administering an adapted questionnaire on PIF. We completed a series of FGDs following questionnaire administration. Quantitative and thematic analyses were conducted sequentially.

Results & discussion: A total of 433 respondents completed the questionnaire. There were statistically significant differences among subjects on the subscales "Recognition and internalization of professional roles" and "Self-control in professional behavior"; the more senior students had higher scores. We conducted 6 FGDs in total. The results characterize PIF as a complex, dynamic, and longitudinal journey to becoming a medical doctor that is closely related to a student's motivation. The FGDs also highlight the importance of both internal factors (students' values, attributes, and personal circumstances) and external factors (curriculum, the learning environment, workplace-based learning, and external expectations) for PIF in medical education.

Conclusion: Higher-level students show higher scores in some aspects of PIF, which further validates the potential use of the questionnaire to monitor PIF, a dynamic process influenced by internal and external factors. Generating awareness among medical students and encouraging reflection on their PIF stage may be crucial for PIF processes.

Keywords: Medical students; Mixed-methods study; Professional identity formation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Relationships of the themes and subthemes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Matveevskii A, Moore DL, Samuels PJ. Competency and professionalism in medicine. Clin Teach. 2012;9(2):75–79. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-498X.2012.00539.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Cruess SR, Cruess RL. Understanding medical professionalism: A plea for an inclusive and integrated approach. Med Educ. 2008;42:755–777. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03134.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kanter MH, Nguyen M, Klau MH, Spiegel NH, Ambrosini VL. What does professionalism mean to the physician? The Permanente Journal. 2013;17(3):87–90. doi: 10.7812/TPP/12-120. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wilkinson TJ, Wade WB, Knock LD. A blueprint to assess professionalism: Results of a systematic review. Acad Med. 2009;84:551–558. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e31819fbaa2. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Irby DM, Hamstra SJ. Parting the clouds: three professionalism frameworks in medical education. Acad Med. 2016;91:1606–1611. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000001190. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources