Table 1 Results of the qualitative content analysis prior to the interprofessional training to explore the professional identities of medical and midwifery students

Professional understanding

 A1

Taking responsibility

responsibility for family and friends in the private sphere/patients in the hospital and doctor’s practice.

2.27

4.83

 A2

Part of a system

health system; team at the hospital

1.13

1.14

 A3

Social function

assistance in everyday life; social commitment

4.22

4.98

 A4

Self fulfillment

guarantee of a better quality of life; privilege to know and to exercise

0.81

1.14

Personal career expectations

 B1

Professional competence

Expertise

5.19

5.26

 B2

Personal competence

autonomy; resilience; blunting

2.43

2.27

 B3

Social competence

interprofessional  communication, empathy

4.54

5.26

 B4

Motivational attitudes

diligence, perseverance, joy

3.56

1.42

External career expectations

 C1

Professional competence

theoretical and practical

4.54

2.85

 C2

Personal competence

resilience; stress resistance; personality building; responsibility

4.70

4.27

 C3

Social competence

attentiveness to others; teamwork (interprofessional)

6.48

5.69

 C4

Motivational attitudes

discipline; perseverance; willingness to continue education

2.59

2.56

Potential for conflicts

 D1

Career

lack of staff, communication with patients and colleagues; disagreements between professional groups/with patients/regarding treatment methods; misunderstanding; shift work; non defining of clear boundaries

7.13

5.41

 D2

Private life

work-life balance; family; leisure time/hobbies; separating work and private life; stress management

4.86

6.26

Unfulfilled personal expectations

 E1

Personal consequences

self-doubt; lack of motivation; fear of failure; mental health

5.67

4.98

 E2

Professional consequences

endangering third parties; unsuitable for the profession; questioning the profession due to bad experiences

4.05

4.27

Unfulfilled patient expectations

 F1

Personal consequences

self-doubt; overestimating oneself in the case of error avoidance/accomplishment; loss of trust; damage of reputation

3.08

4.98

 F2

Professional consequences

doing harm, when in case of feeling unwell

5.35

2.70

Unfulfilled societal expectations

 G1

Personal consequences

doubts about own competence

1.94

4.13

 G2

Professional consequences

damage to the image of the profession; loss of confidence; impact on other generations/against academisation of midwifery

4.22

2.42

Professional role models

 H1

Professional competence

individually adapted treatment

4.54

4.13

 H2

Personal competence

resilience; clear demarcation between private and professional life

2.92

4.55

 H3

Social competence

teamwork and communication (interprofessional; with patients)

6.48

6.83

 H4

Motivational attitudes

joy; motivation

0.97

0.57

Professional upbringing

 I1

Career

study; exchange with fellow students/members of the profession/patients; positive/negative examples; dissection course; internships

5.02

6.54

 I2

Private life

society; social organisations

1.30

0.57