Understanding healthcare providers’ professional identification: The role of interprofessional communication in the vocational socialization of physicians

As physicians’ roles continue to change in the US, scholars have called for more research in interprofessional communication–communication between physicians and other healthcare providers to help interprofessional healthcare teams work together to examine, design, and deliver quality medical care to patients. Here, we examine the role of interprofessional communication in fostering professional identification among physicians. Survey results from physicians showed the unique role that mutual support plays in strengthening healthcare providers’ professional identities. This study contributes to the current communicative-based identification literature by looking beyond formal socialization practices to show how day-to-day interprofessional interactions influence physicians’ identity. In addition to expanding theory, this research also adds to practice by demonstrating the need to train physicians not only on when and how to consult other physicians and medical teams, but also to trust, depend on, and work in concert with other specialties.