Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-23321
Publication type: Article in scientific journal
Type of review: Peer review (publication)
Title: Professional identity formation in health promotion practitioners : students’ perspectives during an undergraduate program in Switzerland
Authors: Biehl, Verena
Wieber, Frank
Abegglen, Denise
Glässel, Andrea
et. al: No
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010754
10.21256/zhaw-23321
Published in: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume(Issue): 18
Issue: 20
Page(s): 10754
Issue Date: 13-Oct-2021
Publisher / Ed. Institution: MDPI
ISSN: 1660-4601
1661-7827
Language: English
Subjects: Health promotion; Workforce; Undergrduate student; Professional identity
Subject (DDC): 614: Public health and prevention of disease
Abstract: The health promotion (HP) community advocates for capacity building, quality assurance and political awareness of HP. Professional identity (PI) is of great relevance to these goals as persons who strongly identify with their profession better adopt their professional role, raising the quality, competence and common values within a professional group. However, investigations on the HP workforce are missing. In order to investigate PI formation in HP professionals, a longitudinal study was conducted with two student cohorts of a Swiss HP and prevention undergraduate program. Using a qualitative approach, focus groups were conducted at the beginning and end of the undergraduate program. Data were transcribed verbatim and condensed using thematic analysis. The results highlight the complexity of the HP’s professional profile. While students experienced difficulties to capture the profile at the beginning of the program, at the end they developed an understanding of it. The practical experience within work placements helped students to grasp the profile and specify their future professional role. Several behavioral, cognitive and motivational aspects were identified that influence HP students’ PI formation and can be fostered. For instance, universities can commit to public relations for HP practitioners and support the PI formation throughout the study program.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/23321
Fulltext version: Published version
License (according to publishing contract): CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement: School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit: Institute of Public Health (IPH)
Appears in collections:Publikationen Gesundheit

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Biehl, V., Wieber, F., Abegglen, D., & Glässel, A. (2021). Professional identity formation in health promotion practitioners : students’ perspectives during an undergraduate program in Switzerland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10754. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010754
Biehl, V. et al. (2021) ‘Professional identity formation in health promotion practitioners : students’ perspectives during an undergraduate program in Switzerland’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), p. 10754. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010754.
V. Biehl, F. Wieber, D. Abegglen, and A. Glässel, “Professional identity formation in health promotion practitioners : students’ perspectives during an undergraduate program in Switzerland,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 20, p. 10754, Oct. 2021, doi: 10.3390/ijerph182010754.
BIEHL, Verena, Frank WIEBER, Denise ABEGGLEN und Andrea GLÄSSEL, 2021. Professional identity formation in health promotion practitioners : students’ perspectives during an undergraduate program in Switzerland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 13 Oktober 2021. Bd. 18, Nr. 20, S. 10754. DOI 10.3390/ijerph182010754
Biehl, Verena, Frank Wieber, Denise Abegglen, and Andrea Glässel. 2021. “Professional Identity Formation in Health Promotion Practitioners : Students’ Perspectives during an Undergraduate Program in Switzerland.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (20): 10754. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010754.
Biehl, Verena, et al. “Professional Identity Formation in Health Promotion Practitioners : Students’ Perspectives during an Undergraduate Program in Switzerland.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 20, Oct. 2021, p. 10754, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010754.


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