Maliheh Khalvati - Assistant professor, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mahboube Khalvati - Ph.D of English literature, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Ramezan Ali Ghaderi Sanavi - Assistant professor, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Hossein Fekrazad - Ph. D of sociology, Social Work Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hamid Reza Khankeh - Professor of Nursing , Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences
Maryam Rafat Jah - Assistant Professor of Anthropology Department, Faculty of Social Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract Introduction: In order to achieve coherence in the social work identity, it is necessary to determine its constructs. Social work is controversial, and is experienced by many as an enigmatic profession struggling to define its identity, boundaries, and epistemology The current study seeks to identify the constructs of medical social workers' professional identity based on their experience. Methods: The qualitative study focuses on the experiences of ۲۲ medical social workers in ۱۴ public hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The study approach is content analysis. Purposeful Sampling was applied Results: Three constructs, namely, role and performance (role ambiguity, the need to redefine and expand the roles, inability to apply theory, and non-standard methods of practice), professional inferiority(participant’s belief in the future of the profession, practitioner inability to effectively introduce the profession, and practitioner inability to defend the profession), and professional apathy (lack of scientific contribution, coping with the current situation and lack of professional membership and relationship ) are extracted. Conclusion: Constructs show the poor identity of social work and its vulnerability. Finally, the study discusses the implication of professional identity constructs for social workers.

“Iranian Medical social workers”, “Construct, Content Analysis”, “Professional Identity”.