Integrating reflective practice into public health postgraduate programs to develop professional capabilities

Abstract

This review article explores the integration of reflective practice into public health postgraduate training programs to enhance the professional capabilities of students. It emphasizes the significance of experiential learning in authentic settings, followed by reflection that fosters professional identity formation. This article also discusses the benefits of reflective practice, such as enhanced self-awareness, empathy, and professional identity formation. Based on the existing literature, this review proposes eight steps to effectively utilize reflective practice, including faculty training, identifying critical incidents for reflection, and guiding self-reflection. It also highlights the challenges in developing and sustaining reflective practice, including motivating and training faculty, building mutual trust, ensuring its continuity and carrying out robust impact evaluations. Despite these challenges, fostering a culture of reflection in public health practice is essential for developing competent and capable public health professionals.