Student-related aspects in the construction of the Medical Identity: an integrative review

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The Medical Identity (MI) construction is a dynamic phenomenon influenced by factors related to the student, the educational environment and society. Objective: To synthesize the produced knowledge about the student-related aspects regarding the construction of the MI. Method: This is an integrative review of empirical studies published in journals indexed in the MEDLINE and LILACS databases, using the term Medical Identity and the descriptors Identity Crisis, Social Identification, Physician’s Role and Professional Role. The inclusion criteria were: full texts available in Portuguese, Spanish, French or English of empirical studies on factors that influence the development of MI focused on student-related aspects and having physicians or undergraduate medical students as participants. Results: In the first stage, 1,365 articles were identified. Subsequently, 194 articles were chosen for in-depth reading. Of these, 18 were included for thematic analysis with classification into categories in dialogue with the literature, based on the concept of healthy MI. Most articles were published in the last decade. Three categories were identified: expectation versus reality, related to what the student thinks about what a physician is or should be; the ‘superhero’ physician, related to the caricatured perception of Medicine created by the students themselves and offered by society through TV programs, series and films; and role modeling, which concerns the importance of the student’s practical experience supervised by a preceptor or teacher. The MI built throughout the medical course influences the way medicine is practiced and when it is not consistent with the reality that the recently graduated student encounters, it causes suffering to the physician and interferes with their professional performance. Conclusion: Educational institutions, teachers and preceptors must be aware of the expectations and ideals of their students about what it means to be a physician and the role of this professional in society, aiming to promote interventions that help establishing a healthier and more resilient identity construction, particular to the medical profession.