The bumpy ride to a medical PhD degree: a qualitative study on factors influencing motivation.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

In parallel with a tremendous increase in medical PhD enrolments, concerns have risen about PhD candidates' poor well-being, increasing attrition rates for PhD programmes, and, eventually, a decline in clinician-scientists. According to the Self-Determination Theory, autonomous motivation is strongly linked to positive aspects of well-being and other positive outcomes such as study completion and success. In this way, motivation has a pivotal role in successful completion of medical doctoral programmes. In this study we explored factors affecting motivation during the PhD journey and aimed to contribute to engaging doctoral education environments, and, eventually, a sustainable clinician-scientist workforce.

Methods

This constructivist qualitative interview stud

SUBMITTER: den Bakker CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10875841 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature