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Physicians

Developing a Professional Identity for Medical Students in Geriatrics Care

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Medical students need to develop an appropriate professional identity to effectively care for the growing population of older persons. A study conducted by researchers at Leiden University Medical Center explored the perceptions of physicians who care for older persons regarding their professional identity. The study aimed to gain more insight into the characteristics of this professional identity, which is essential for providing high-quality healthcare to older adults.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study revealed that being a physician for older persons means aligning with the patient, collaborating with other healthcare professionals, dealing with complexity, and being self-aware.
  • Physicians experienced in caring for older adults can serve as role models for medical students, helping them develop a professional identity that enables them to provide high-quality care.
  • Participation in a community of practice of older persons' healthcare can facilitate the development of a professional identity among medical students.
  • The study identified three key themes that summarize the importance of alignment with the patient, navigating complexity, and being reflective.
  • The study population consisted of Dutch physicians who had an official medical specialty registration as an elderly care physician or a general practitioner with an additional qualification in geriatrics.
  • A total of 20 participants were purposefully sampled for the study, and the interviews took place at their workplace.
  • The researchers applied a six-step thematic analysis to structure and interpret the data, using an inductive approach.

Statistics:

  • 25(1):1-11 is the article number assigned to the study in the BMC Medical Education journal.
  • 20 is the number of participants in the study.
  • 6 is the number of steps in the thematic analysis used to structure and interpret the data.

Sources:

  • Exploring the professional identity of physicians experienced in older persons' health care - implications for medical education: A qualitative study. BMC Medical Education, 2025,25(1):1-11.
  • BMC Research article available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07140-8.

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