Workshop on Core Values for First-Year Medical Students: Supporting Professional Identity Formation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Professional Development
• Subjectification in Education

Background:

• Medical education prioritizes knowledge and behavior but neglects personal development (subjectification).
• Subjectification is crucial for holistic student growth, alongside qualification and socialization.
• A gap exists in addressing students' personal values within medical curricula.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a core values workshop for first-year medical students.
• To guide students in identifying and reflecting on their personal values.
• To enhance subjectification within the medical education framework.

Main Methods:

• A 2-hour core values workshop was integrated into the professional development curriculum.
• Workshop activities included Values Board discussion, individual reflection, and plenary video analysis.
• Anonymous online surveys with quantitative and qualitative questions evaluated student responses (n=397).

Main Results:

• Students rated the workshop 7.3/10.
• Qualitative analysis revealed four themes: enhanced self-knowledge, perspective-taking, understanding professional context, and application of values.
• The workshop supported objectives related to self-knowledge and understanding values, with more limited support for application and professional integration.

Conclusions:

• The core values workshop effectively enhanced self-knowledge and value clarity in first-year medical students.
• Challenges persist in linking personal values to professional identity formation.
• Early implementation during preclinical training may limit the workshop's impact on professional identity.