The experience of professional identity formation by palliative care practitioners: an exploratory qualitative study by the Singapore Hospice Council

Background: Professional identity formation (PIF), the process through which professionals internalise and reconcile new experiences with a pre-existing identity can lead to better patient care outcomes and staff fulfilment. However, how palliative care practitioners (PCPs) experience PIF is currently unclear. To support services as they expand capacity to cope with increasing needs, this study addresses the question, How is professional identity formation experienced by palliative care providers in Singapore?" Methods: This exploratory qualitative study investigates how PIF is experienced by PCPs through a Relativist ontological position and a Constructivist epistemological lens. A total of seven focus group discussions involving 35 representatives from 19 member organisations of the Singapore Hospice Council (SHC) were conducted between August and September 2024. Each session lasted approximately 1-1.5 h. The data was audio-recorded, anonymised, transcribed, and analysed thematically. Results: Three themes and 7 subthemes are identified. The three themes are: prevailing professional identity of PCPs, dilemma between professional self-sufficiency and interprofessional collaboration, and expectations of leadership. Conclusion: This study elicited a self-reported, multi-faceted description of professional identity by local PCPs. PCPs' expectations of their professional competence, together with insights about how interprofessional collaboration is practiced and expectations of organisational leadership reinforce the need to adopt a multi-pronged approach towards staff support. Such an approach should include developing PCPs' competence across both biomedical and psychosocial domains, foster IPC practices that translate to staff support, and alignment of organisational goals with service realities. Future research should evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of such approaches.