Concept analysis: Professional formation of medical students

Abstract

At present, the development of concept has widely received attention and support as one of the most important approaches of exploring in order to expand and develop medical sciences. Professionalism is one of the fundamental concepts of medicine and results in the interaction between the individual and workplace, and interpersonal communications, as well as culture and value. Currently, experts in medical education believe that professional formation programs for medical students are as important as the programs on the acquisition of clinical skills and medical knowledge. This was a concept analysis study based on the Walker and Avant's approach was aimed to develop the concept of professional formation. The search terms of "professional formation", "personal and professional development", "professional identity", and "medical student" were used in the ERIC, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Web of Science to collect the relevant studies. The retrieved studies were deeply analyzed according to the respective subject. After explaining the reason for selection, purposes, and essence of concept analysis with the specification of the main defining attributes of the intended concept, the final analytical definition of professional formation of medical students was obtained. Then, by identifying the model, borderline, related and contrary cases, antecedents and consequences of the concept, its specific dimensions were made clearer. The major challenge of the medical education is determining the most effective method of professional formation and fostering of students. In this regard, this new understanding enters a set of learning environments, designed deliberately to boost and enhance the under training professional physicians. This will lead to the transition of medical education, development in the future for performance of physicians, reduction in medical errors, and increase in the confidence of society in medical profession.