Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40426126›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2025

Professional identity among forensic medicine students: a cross-sectional study in Jiangsu Province, East China.

Kang Wang, Xiaowen Yang, Zixin Han, Kai Li, Youjia Yu, Zhengsheng Mao, Rong Li, Yanfang Yu, Zhiwei Zhang, Yining Huang and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Kang Wang *Department of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Xiaowen Yang *Nanjing Medical University Library, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Zixin HanSchool of Health Policy & Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Kai LiDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Youjia YuDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Zhengsheng MaoDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Rong LiDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Yanfang YuDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Zhiwei ZhangDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
Yining HuangCollege of Journalism and Communication, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
Jingjing DingInstitution of Medical Education Research, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China. dingjingjing@njmu.edu.cn.
Haihong ChenSchool of Health Policy & Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. chenhaihong@njmu.edu.cn.
Feng ChenDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China. fchen@njmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExploring the impact of professional identity on the academic performance of students is crucial for improving teaching effectiveness and educational outcomes in this field. Forensic medicine is a niche interdisciplinary discipline in the medical system. However, current educational literature on professional identity development does not adequately address forensic medicine students.

aimThis study aimed to assess the professional identity among forensic medicine students, explore factors associated with professional identity, and determine the role of professional identity in shaping students' learning engagement and their subsequent academic achievements.

methodsA cross-sectional study was executed for forensic medicine students from a medical university in Jiangsu Province, East China between November and December 2023. Using the method of cluster sampling, 159 undergraduates majoring in forensic medicine were investigated. Data were collected using the demographic questionnaire, and the scales of professional identity, learning engagement, and academic achievement. Linear regression was used to explore professional identity-associated factors. Pearson correlation and mediation analysis were used to analyze the relationship between professional identity, learning engagement, and academic achievement.

resultsThe mean score of professional identity was 3.85. Grade (senior: β = 0.353, P = 0.004; fifth-year: β = 0.392, P = 0.001), student leader experience (β = 0.157, P = 0.037), specialty selection (major assignment: β=-0.215, P = 0.014), knowledge of the specialty before enrollment (β = 0.095, P = 0.033), and current knowledge of the specialty (β = 0.245, P = 0.000) were the statistically significant factors influencing professional identity. Professional identity, learning engagement, and academic achievement were positively correlated (P < 0.001). Learning engagement played an intermediate role between professional identity and academic achievement, accounting for 49.445% of the total effect.

conclusionThese findings highlight the pivotal role of professional identity as a strategic mechanism for improving academic achievement in forensic medicine education, with learning engagement serving as the primary mediating factor. As a multifaceted and evolving construct, professional identity is shaped by an interplay of personal, specialty and perception factors. Generating awareness and taking measures among forensic educators to enhance students' professional identity across stages may be crucial for promoting the quality of forensic talent training.

Indexed as

Forensic MedicineSocial IdentificationStudents, MedicalAcademic SuccessAdultChinaCross-Sectional StudiesEducation, Medical, UndergraduateFemaleHumansMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAcademic achievementForensic medicine studentsInfluencing factorsLearning engagementProfessional identity

Identifiers

PMID40426126
PMCPMC12117931

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LicenceCC BY
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.