Medical student motivation in specialised contexts.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Medical students face diverse learning environments during clinical rotations.
• Understanding motivation in specialized clinical settings is crucial but underexplored.
• Self-Determination Theory (SDT) offers a framework for intrinsic motivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing medical student motivation in internal medicine (IM) subspecialty consult services.
• To optimize teaching and learning experiences based on Self-Determination Theory (SDT).

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using focus groups with 12 fourth-year medical students.
• Abductive thematic analysis guided by SDT principles.
• Exploration of factors promoting and hindering learning and motivation.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: appropriate teaching level, team integration, and self-directed learning.
• These themes demonstrate interconnected fulfillment of SDT's psychological needs (competence, relatedness, autonomy).
• Insights into supporting intrinsic motivation in specialized clinical learning environments.

Conclusions:

• Fulfilling students' innate psychological needs enhances intrinsic motivation in IM subspecialty electives.
• Recommendations are provided for educators to optimize student learning and motivation.
• Enhancing the educational experience in specialized clinical settings.