The status of professional identity and professional self-efficacy of nursing students in China and how the medical documentaries affect them: A quasi-randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: Professional identity and self-efficacy are important for the education and career development of students. However, how to improve these factors among Chinese nursing students needs further study. This quasi-randomized control trial was designed to explore the effect of medical documentaries on professional self-efficacy and identity among nursing students in Chinese technical schools. METHODS: A total of 277 nursing students were enrolled in this study and divided into an experimental group (n = 135) and a control group (n = 142). The experimental group was invited to watch Chinese medical documentaries, whereas the control group remained on a waiting list. A self-designed general questionnaire, along with professional identity and professional self-efficacy questionnaires, was completed by the nursing students. RESULTS: No significant change in professional self-efficacy was observed (−3.55 ± 14.23, P = 0.173) in the experimental group, while professional identity significantly declined (−6.24 ± 12.85, P = 0.002) after the intervention. No significant change was found in the two aspects in the control group. CONCLUSION: Medical documentaries negatively affect professional identity but do not affect professional self-efficacy. Further researches should be conducted to explore the real reasons.