The Strength of Motivation to Study Medicine

Abstract

Motivation to study medicine is an important factor of medical students to achieve their study. This cross sectional descriptive research aimed to survey the motivation to study medicine and their related factors of 180, 4th-6th year medical students in Buddhachinaraj Medical Education Center, in the academic year 2016.  The questionnaires, translated from the Strength of Motivation to Study medicine (SMMS) to Thai language  by the experts, consisted of 16 items, were used. The academic achievements were considered from the  national license tests part 1 and 2. The results showed that gender, selection procedures and academic  achievements had non statistically significant scores. The 4th-6th year medical students had mean SMMS  scores 52.62, 52.35 and 51.93 respectively (p = 0.860). The factor of most negative influence to motivation was decrease scores and frequent examination failure. In conclusion, the medical students have motivation to study medicine in the moderate level. The instructor should find out the method to increase the motivation to study medicine of the medical students.