Abstract: Objective To evaluate the professional identity (PI) of undergraduate students majoring in health service and management (HM) and the difference of PI in different categories. Methods Questionnaire and interview outline were designed based on the development theory of PI, and the survey and interviews were conducted on undergraduate students majoring in HM in three college and universities in Anhui from July to October 2021. Chi-square, T-test and ANOVA were used to analysis quantitative data, and the interview was used to analyze the possible reasons. Results Among 426 students, 161 students (38.1%) chose the major as their first choice. The PI score was (20.2±0.1) with the total score of 26. The PR scores were different in different college types(t=-3.75,P<0.001), grades(F=8.11,P<0.001), genders(t=-3.42,P<0.001), regions(t=2.53,P=0.012), and science-humanities divisions in high school (t=3.00,P=0.003) students. Interview data showed that students′ PI is influenced by their family and surrounding environment during the prior period of PI; is related to professional teachers, counselors, and seniors during the contact period of PI and pay more attention to professional skills and practical teaching during the formative period of PI. Conclusions The PI of students majoring in HM is average, and different types of students have different levels of PI. To improve the PI of HM major, we should pay attention to the atmosphere developing of social, family and school.

Key words: Health service and management, Health management, Professional identity, Professional confidence