Unveiling the implicit : exploring professionalism and professional identity formation in dentistry
department or school: Dentistry, Faculty of
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCV
creator: Kwon, Jennifer Hye Eun
issued: 2025-05-20T17:10:49Z
issued: 2025
related degree: Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: Background: Professionalism in healthcare encompasses clinical competence, effective communication, ethical understanding, and humanistic attributes. It is a key component in dental education mandated by accreditation bodies in Canada and the U.S. However, the lack of a universally agreed-upon definition, inconsistent teaching approaches, and role modelling make it difficult to implement. Additionally, competitive market pressures and shifting social and economic priorities further challenge efforts to instill professionalism, even among experienced practitioners. Professional identity formation (PIF), which emphasizes the process of "becoming" a professional, may offer a potential pathway for fostering consistent and enduring professionalism in oral healthcare practitioners. Objectives: This dissertation explores key factors shaping PIF and its connection to professionalism among dental students and practicing dentists. It further seeks to offer insights into actionable recommendations for enhancing professionalism education through the lens of PIF. Methods: Surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted with dental students and practicing dentists. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, template analysis, and axiological analysis. Results: While professionalism is seen as essential, some participants questioned whether values like empathy, honesty, and respect can be fully taught. Key influences on student PIF included domain-specific self-efficacy, role modelling, peer interaction, the learning environment, and reflection. Students recommended embedding professionalism more fully across the curriculum, improving assessment, and promoting professional culture among faculty. For practitioners, PIF was shaped by work experience, personality and upbringing, education, and the title of “doctor.” However, findings suggested a potential disconnect between professional identity and ethical conduct, suggesting that experience alone, witho…
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/91163
note: UNVEILING THE IMPLICIT: EXPLORING PROFESSIONALISM AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY FORMATION IN DENTISTRY by Jennifer Hye Eun Kwon B.Sc., The University of British Columbia, 2005 M.A. University of London, 2018 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (Craniofacial Science) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) May 2025 © Jennifer Hye Eun Kwon, 2025 ii The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for acceptance, the dissertation entitled: UNVEILING THE IMPLICIT: EXPLORING PROFESISONALISM AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY FORMATION IN DENTISTRY submitted by Jennifer Hye Eun Kwon in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science Examining Committee: Dr. HsingChi von Bergmann, Professor, Department of Oral Health Sciences, UBC Supervisor Dr. Charles Shuler, Professor, Department of Oral and Biological Medical Sciences, UBC Supervisory Committee Member Dr. Judith Walker, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Studies, UBC Supervisory Committee Member Dr. Jolanta Aleksejuniene, Professor, Department of Oral Health Sciences, UBC University Examiner Dr. David Silver, Associate Professor, Sauder School of Business, UBC University Examiner Dr. Michael Botelho, Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong External Examiner iii Abstract Background: Professionalism in healthcare encompasses clinical competence, effective communication, ethical understanding, and humanistic attributes. It is a key component in dental education mandated by accreditation bodies in Canada and the U.S. However, the lack of a universally agreed-upon definition, inconsistent teaching approaches, and role modelling make it difficult to implement. Additionally, competitive market pressures and shifting social and economic priorities further challenge …
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 2025-11
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0448917
language: eng
degree discipline: Craniofacial Science
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Graduate
contributor: von Bergmann, HsingChi
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/91163