Influence of medical didactic training on the self-efficacy and motivation of clinical teachers

Due to increasing workload and rising expectations for both undergraduate and speciality training in medicine, teaching in a clinical environment can be challenging. The "Train the Trainer" course, developed by CAL (Chirurgische Arbeitsgemeinschaft Lehre, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie (DGCH)), aims to assist clinical teachers in their task. This study investigates the effect the course has on participants' self-efficacy and teaching motivation.

Prior to attending the course, participants anonymously completed a 50-question pre-course questionnaire using standardised questions to gather information on biographical data teaching experience, and validated tools measuring teaching motivation and self-efficacy (PRE). Directly after completing the course, participants evaluated it using a 25-question post-course questionnaire (POST1). At least 12 months after the course, participants received a follow-up questionnaire (POST2) by mail. This 44-question form aimed to gather biographical data, review the teaching methods participants had used since their training, and reassess their teaching motivation and self-efficacy.

Between June 2016 and October 2019, 20 TTT courses were held across six German medical faculties. Data were gathered from 241 participants. After the course, 182 POST2 questionnaires were mailed, 61 of which were returned (equals a 39 % return rate). The findings revealed significant increases in teacher self-efficacy (p=0.0025), identified regulation (p=0.0000), and career motivation (p=0.0044). In contrast, there was a significant decrease in introjected regulation (p=0.0048). When comparing the participants to a reference sample selected from literature, significant differences emerged in intrinsic motivation (p=0.0000) and amotivation (p=0.0025).

Course participants already showed strong intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy before taking the course. After completing it, their confidence to meet specific teaching demands based on their abilities had increased. Notably, changes in motivational dimensions identified and introjected regulation point towards a shift in motivational sources, indicating a more self-regulated approach towards participants' teaching activities. Further research is needed to determine how much of this change was due to course participation.