Investigating the factors affecting the academic motivation of students of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences

Abstract Introduction: Motivation is one of the most important issues affecting academic achievement. The aim of this study was to investigate academic motivation and its related factors in students of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. Method: In the present cross-sectional descriptive study, 180 students were randomly selected. The study survey consisted from the demographic section, academic motivation questionnaire and a four-item section related to satisfaction with welfare and educational status, job future and field of study. Significance levels was considered less than 0.05. Results: The students were 50 medical, 34 nursing, 24 operating room, 43 anesthesia and four pharmacy students participated. The mean (SD) age of subjects was 21.66 (1.55). In addition, out of them, they were 82.2% male, 90.6% single, 51.1% undergraduate, 93.3% non-scholarship holders and 88.3% dormitories' residents. The mean (SD) scores of internal and external motivation, lack of motivation, and total academic motivation were 52.77 ± 13.90, 55.08 ±14.07, and 14.98 ± 6.32, and 122.84 ± 29.48, respectively. Academic motivation was statistically significant with respect to different age levels (p ‹ 0.05). External motivation also showed a significant correlation with job satisfaction (p ‹ 0.05) and satisfaction with the field of study (r = 0.15) (p ‹ 0.05). Conclusion: Findings showed that students' academic motivation is not desirable and needs attention. Providing a basis for students to study in the field of interest, paying more attention to the welfare of students can be effective.