Journal Article

A Scoping Review of Professional Identity Formation in Undergraduate Medical Education

Chin Annelissa Mien Chew, Sarraf-Yazdi Shiva, Chan Natalie Pei Xin, Lee Alexia Sze Inn, Chiam Min, Kamal Nur Haidah Ahmad, Teo Yao Hao, Cheong Clarissa Wei Shuen, Krishna Lalit Kumar Radha, Sarah-Kei, Lauw, Lam, Wei Yi, Ong, Yun Ting, Lee Ryan Bing Qian, Ghazali Haziratul Zakirah Binte, Rui Ming, Tan Javier, Wong Ruth Si Man, Teo, Yao Neng, Tan Lorraine Hui En, Goh Sherill, Kow, Cheryl Shumin, How Ashley Ern Hui

2021

Overview

BackgroundProfessional identity formation (PIF) in medical students is a multifactorial phenomenon, shaped by ways that clinical and non-clinical experiences, expectations and environmental factors merge with individual values, beliefs and obligations. The relationship between students’ evolving professional identity and self-identity or personhood remains ill-defined, making it challenging for medical schools to support PIF systematically and strategically. Primarily, to capture prevailing literature on PIF in medical school education, and secondarily, to ascertain how PIF influences on medical students may be viewed through the lens of the ring theory of personhood (RToP) and to identify ways that medical schools support PIF.MethodsA systematic scoping review was conducted using the systematic evidence-based approach. Articles published between 1 January 2000 and 1 July 2020 related to PIF in medical students were searched using PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, ERIC and Scopus. Articles of all study designs (quantitative and qualitative), published or translated into English, were included. Concurrent thematic and directed content analyses were used to evaluate the data.ResultsA total of 10443 abstracts were identified, 272 full-text articles evaluated, and 76 articles included. Thematic and directed content analyses revealed similar themes and categories as follows: characteristics of PIF in relation to professionalism, role of socialization in PIF, PIF enablers and barriers, and medical school approaches to supporting PIF.DiscussionPIF involves iterative construction, deconstruction and inculcation of professional beliefs, values and behaviours into a pre-existent identity. Through the lens of RToP, factors were elucidated that promote or hinder students’ identity development on individual, relational or societal levels. If inadequately or inappropriately supported, enabling factors become barriers to PIF. Medical schools employ an all-encompassing approach to support PIF, illuminating the need for distinct and deliberate longitudinal monitoring and mentoring to foster students’ balanced integration of personal and professional identities over time.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Education / Environmental factors / Identity / Identity formation / Internal medicine / Lenses / Medical education / Medical schools / Medical students / Personhood / Professional identity / Schools / Students