ArticleBMC medical education2026
A dynamic framework of professional identity formation in trainees for low-resource settings: a qualitative study.
Article in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundProfessional Identity Formation (PIF) is a dynamic and context-dependent socialisation process; while existing research identifies various influencing factors, there is a paucity of cohesive frameworks that capture the stage-related internalisation of identity elements within practice. This gap is particularly salient in low-resource settings, such as China's Rural-Streamed Medical Education Programme (RMEP), where substantial turnover and tenuous professional identity among trainees present significant challenges. Drawing upon the Ring Theory of Personhood (RToP) as a theoretical lens, this study aims to construct a dynamic framework for understanding PIF among RMEP trainees, thereby offering insights to enhance PIF for healthcare professionals in low-resource settings.
methodInformed by a pragmatic paradigm, nine focus groups were conducted with 42 RMEP trainees across various training stages in China. Drawing upon the RToP as a sensitising concept, data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis to construct a dynamic framework.
resultsA framework comprising 11 themes was constructed across three dimensions: the Societal Domain, encompassing working conditions, policies, attitudes of others, formal teaching and discipline development; the Relational Domain, including relationships with role models, close ones, patients, and peers; and the Individual Domain, incorporating reflective experience, personal character and values. This framework emphasises the dynamic interaction of these themes and the stage-related shifts of PIF, highlighting a shift from external to internal elements while also acknowledging the prominent influence of early external experiences in low-resource settings.
conclusionsBy proposing a dynamic framework that maps PIF across different training stages, this study extends existing conceptualizations and provides valuable insights for strengthening it among healthcare professionals in low-resource settings.
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