An Investigation Of Professional Identity Of Medical Students

This article studies the characteristics of and factors that influence on the professional identity of medical students, by adopting a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodology. According to the literature, interviews and the opinions of professionals and experts, the researcher made and conducted a questionaire about'the research on professional identity of medical students'. The statistical results presented a good credibility and validity. The professional identity of the medical students consists of six dimentions, which are vocational cognition, vocational emotion, vocational commitment, vocational behavior, vocational expectation and vocational values.The researcher researched 2000 medical students in four advanced medical colleges in Shanghai, and found that the professional identity of the medical students follows the characteristic and influenced by factors below:the professional identity of medical students, in generally, is at a mid-high level; Differences exist among distinct majors, and the traditional Chinese medical students have the highest professional identity level; Differences also exist among distinct educational background of medical students, the higher the education level, the lower the professional identity; Third, differences exist among distinct grades, the professional identity shows a first decline and then increase trend as the grades grow in regular. The professional identity is influenced by gender:male gets a higher mark than female on the factor of vocation behavior and vacation expectation. The vocation identification is influenced by one child policy:singleton has a higher mark on the factor of vocation emotion than others.The professional identity is influenced by unit's student career:A member in student union gets higher marks in all six factors than the others. The professional identity is influenced by intention of the entrance exam to university and the place students come from. They differs the professional identity. The place of unit's household has no influence on professional identity. Study shows that inspire of individual's personal thought on medical career varies, it still includes some factors in common, from positive to negative.These factors are:They know the high risk and pressure under current executive e environment. They can feel their significant duty and great value, and understand the hard study process. Some has regretted but not decide to quit. They expect the improvement of relationship between doctors and patients, and wish a good return and feedback for the value as a doctor from the society. They are making efforts to become a good doctor. They agree and pursuit the value as a doctor.Through Analysis, the professional identity of medical students is divided into six developmental phases and four types:(1) high level with high interests and high stability(2) medium-high level with medium interests and high stability(3) medium-low level with low interests and medium stability(4)low level with low interests and low stabilityThe barrier of professional identity is as follows:(1) the policy and bad relations between doctors and patients (2) the flaw of medical education (3) the shortcomings of medical students. Correspondingly, Strategy is discussed according to the three barriers.