Abstract: Objective To explore the status of professional identification and its influencing factors among medical freshmen. Methods A professional identity measurement questionnaire, conducted among totally 553 freshmen admitted from the first batch of PKUHSC from November 2019 to January 2020. The questionnaire covers family background, admission of college entrance examination,considerations for application and professional identification. After factor analysis, professional identification was measured by two components: professional emotion and professional knowledge. Multivariate analysis of covariance analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results The average factor score was (3.85±0.79) for professional emotion and (3.76±0.64) for professional knowledge. For students admitted from the first batch, major (F=4.39, P<0.01), family income (F=2.34, P=0.03), professional admission (F=3.07, P=0.02), and the motivation of school strength (F=76.97, P<0.01), self interest (F=49.74,P<0.01), employment prospects (F=3.95, P=0.02) and the desire to change major or pursue a double degree (F=23.42,P<0.01) were the independent factors influencing professional identification. Conclusions The freshman medical students have a high degree of professional identity in general. The professional identity of freshmen is influenced by major, family income, professional admission as well as the factors of school strength, self interest, employment prospects and the desire to change major or pursue double degree.

Key words: Medical specialty, Professional identification, Medical students, Influencing factors