Consensual qualitative research on the internship experience and development of career identity of Korean doctors

BACKGROUND: Career identity is defined as the ability to substantialise career goals and results from the social learning process achieved through interactions with others. This study aimed to understand how the internship experience in Korea affects career identity, which provides a foundation for developing professional values while promoting personal goals and aspirations. METHODS: We conducted eleven semi-structured interviews with interns at a university hospital in Korea who had completed internships and chosen a speciality. The interview transcripts underwent inductive thematic analysis using consensual qualitative research approaches. Themes identified were categorised from three domains for the year-long internship experience: personal cognitive, social interaction, and system domains. RESULTS: Researchers derived seven categories and 20 subcategories from the transcripts: (1) self-reflection throughout internship training, (2) practical awareness of the internship programme’s operation, (3) perception of individual competence, (4) recognition of mentor importance, (5) situational awareness in the clinical department, (6) relationship experience, and (7) experience of institutional limitations. The internship experience, during which the individual is in charge and core values drive career decisions, is important for the formation of career identity and career orientation. The internship programme provides information about the clinical department to applicants seeking residency and serves a mediating role, providing information about applicants to the clinical departments. Internship is an important period during which career identity is formed. CONCLUSION: The internship programme provides information about clinical departments to applicants seeking residency; it is an important period during which career identity is formed. This study helps provide an in-depth understanding of interns and a base for developing institutional and policy support for students during an uncertain time when specialties should be selected.