Exploring the challenges of professional identity formation in clinical education environment: A qualitative study

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the challenges ofprofessional identity formation at clinical education environmentsfrom the faculty members’ viewpoints.Methods: This is a qualitative study. The population consistedof clinical faculty members of Tehran University of MedicalSciences. In this study, 39 faculty members participated inan in-depth semi-structured interview. To analyze the data,conventional content analysis approach was used. Open codingwas extracted from the participants’ statements that representedtheir experiences. Then, based on their similarities, the codeswere classified. Subcategories were emerged and after arranging,they were classified into categories based on their relationships.Results: Instability of professional commitment, patientcenterednessas the missing loop care and treatment, andinappropriate conductive context were explored as the challengesof professional identity in clinical educational environment.Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the formationof professional identity among the providers is not an easy taskbecause many factors affect the formation of professional identity.Therefore, a comprehensive shift towards forming the professionalidentity at individual and organizational level should be planned.