“It’s Too Painful to Explain My Role”: Factors Affecting Professional Identity Formation among Health Professions Educationists

The idea of professional identity formation is not new; yet it remains highly relevant, especially in the evolving field of health professions education (HPE). The diverse backgrounds of professionals pursuing careers in HPE add further complexities to the field and make it increasingly difficult for professionals to identify and nurture their identities in Pakistan. This study aims to explore the multifaceted factors that influence the professional identities of health professions educationists in Pakistan. In this qualitative exploratory study, health professions educationists with more than three years of experience in medical/dental education were interviewed using purposive sampling. Data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We performed thematic analysis using an inductive coding technique that resulted in code generation and identification of subthemes and themes. A total of 15 health professions educationists participated in our study; 3 were males and 12 were females. We identified three overarching themes: promoters of professional identity formation, barriers to professional identity formation, and opportunities to foster professional identity formation. This study revealed that the journey of professional identity formation among Pakistani health professional educationists is complex and characterised by various challenges as well as support structures. Despite facing resource constraints and contextual challenges, educationists remain deeply committed to their roles in shaping the healthcare professionals of the future.