Professional identity formation for underrepresented groups in medicine: challenges and interventions for Dutch medical schools: a systematic scoping review

Background: The concept of intersectionality is important when considering the professional identity formation (PIF) of students who are racially and ethnically underrepresented in medicine (URiM), as they must navigate race and ethnicity within the medical landscape. Despite a growing body of studies that shed light on the challenges that URiM students face in their PIF, there remains a notable lack of practical interventions for medical schools to address these challenges. Our objective is to highlight the challenges faced by URiM students and identify interventions in the literature that would be most suitable for Dutch medical schools to address them. Methods: This study builds upon Teo et al.‘s (2022) scoping review. We examined articles from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2021, and conducted an extended search from January 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. Our focus was on articles exploring the intersectionality of PIF, perspectives of minoritized groups, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the context of PIF in medical education. We used the Systematic Evidence-Based Approach (SEBA) guided systematic scoping review, encompassing four stages: Systematic Approach, Structured Summary and Synthesis, Jigsaw Perspective, and Literature Analysis. Results: A total of 692 abstracts were reviewed, 36 full-text articles were evaluated, and 22 articles were included. URiM students encounter multiple challenges in their PIF journeys such as a lack of role models and representation, experiences of microaggressions, and pressure to assimilate into the majority culture. The proposed interventions for medical schools included diversifying recruitment practices to create more role models, developing curricula to address these challenges, and establishing a supportive network for URiM students. Conclusions: Our study highlights the pressing need for Dutch medical schools to address the challenges faced by URiM students in PIF. The identified interventions offer actionable strategies to cultivate a more supportive and equitable learning environment. The implementation of these interventions has the potential to enhance URiM students’ educational experiences, reduce disparities, and promote diversity within the medical profession. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing efforts to prioritize inclusivity and equity in medical education.